Close Reading of Informational Sources Assessment-Driven Instruction in Grades 3-8

This widely used teacher resource and course text--now significantly revised with 75% new content--provides a flexible approach to fostering high-level understanding of a wide variety of informational sources in grades 3–8. Through the lens of a new three-phase lesson plan, the author explains how to teach students to think critically about sources, monitor for meaning, identify main ideas, explain key details, and make sense of unfamiliar vocabulary. Now in a convenient large-size format, the second edition is packed with practical features, including a detailed study guide and links to recommended online videos. The companion website allows readers to download and print a reproducible lesson planning template and quick-reference tools, as well as additional resources referenced in the book. Prior edition title: Close Reading of Informational Texts.
 
New to This Edition
*Substantially revised and updated to reflect the ongoing development of the author's approach; lessons now comprise three clearly defined phases. 
*Expanded to cover close "reading” of video, audio, and infographics, as well as traditional texts.
*Chapters on new topics: selecting sources and teaching the use of context clues to learn new vocabulary.
*Additional practical features: sidebars with clear explanations of comprehension strategies, sample lessons, examples of students’ written responses, suggestions for assessment, tips for follow-up instruction, companion website, and more.

Sunday Cummins, PhD, is a literacy consultant and author of professional books on assessment-driven instruction with informational sources. Formerly, she was Assistant Professor in the Reading and Language Department at National Louis University, before which she worked in public schools for 10 years as a middle school and third-grade teacher and as a literacy coach. Dr. Cummins teaches and learns alongside educators and students as a consultant and researcher with a focus on the power of informational sources to transform students’ thinking. She shares her experiences by presenting at state and national conferences, writing articles for numerous publications, and blogging regularly. Her website is www.sunday-cummins.com.
 
 

Introduction
1. Strategic Close Reading of Informational Sources
2. A Repertoire of Strategies Needed for Close Reading
3. An Assessment-Driven, Three-Phase Plan for Learning
4. Selecting Sources
5. Introducing Sources and Teaching Students to Make Informed Predictions
6. Synthesis and Identifying Main Ideas
7. Monitoring for Meaning
8. Identifying and Explaining Key Details
9. Learning from a Source’s Visual Images and Other Features
10. Using Context Clues to Make Sense of Unfamiliar Vocabulary
11. Synthesis of Information from Multiple Sources
Appendix A. Lessons for Phase 2--Meet the Strategies
Appendix B. Study Guide