Product Description

The Common Core State Standards encourage teachers to use close reading as a means to help students access complex text. Many literacy experts believe close reading has the power to create strong, independent readers. But what does that really mean, and how does it work in the classroom?This book is your must-have guide to getting started! It provides step-by-step strategies and scaffolds for teaching close reading and improving students’ comprehension of complex texts. You will learn how to teach close reading based on text type, how to transition students through increasingly challenging texts, and how to use close reading as a springboard for close writes and close talks.

Special Features:
• An easy-to-use framework for creating a close reading lesson
• Close reading strategies for a variety of literary and informational subgenres
• Ideas for teaching close reading to meet specific comprehension objectives based on the Common Core, including analyzing text structure and evaluating argument
• Suggestions for helping students read with increased levels of rigor
• A clear explanation of what text complexity really means and how it varies by student
• Scaffolds to help students at all ability levels do a close reading
• Guidelines and procedures for close talks—purposeful, focused discussions about text
• Procedures for close writes that vary based on genre and student ability level

In addition, each chapter includes study guide questions to help you apply the ideas in the book to your own classroom. With this practical book, you will have all the tools you need to make close reading a reality!

Editorial Reviews

Review 

"After reading just one chapter, I already felt more confident as a teacher implementing close reading. I especially found the examples of how to scaffold the implementation helpful. The content aligns well with the current dialogue in best practices in instruction and implementation of the Common Core. The visuals are very strong. I could see the "Close Reading Framework" graphic being used by teachers right next to their lesson plans. The "Levels of Comprehension" graphic also really puts in perspective what the focus for each cycle of reading should be. Connection to writing is also appealing!"

--Karina Nevers, ELL Literacy Specialist, Clark County School District, NV

"I would recommend this book to other administrators. It could be used for a book study with teachers of upper elementary to high school learners, especially with teachers who have identified that their students are struggling readers who need more help with complex texts. In fact, I think the book’s strategies would be helpful for all teachers to have!"

--Elizabeth Pratt, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Leominster Public Schools, MA

About the Author 

Dr. Diana Sisson and Dr. Betsy Sisson are educational consultants who work with schools and speak internationally on the topic of improving literacy. They are adjunct professors at Central Connecticut State University and the University of Saint Joseph.