A Dramatic Approach to Reading Comprehension


Book Description

"In addition, A Dramatic Approach to Reading Comprehension includes a comprehensive treatment of assessment in both drama and reading comprehension. Readers will find a variety of assessment guidelines, tasks, tools, and definitions of terms." "Discover the power of merging drama and reading comprehension by taking A Dramatic Approach to Reading Comprehension. Book jacket."--Jacket.




Reading Reconsidered


Book Description

TEACH YOUR STUDENTS TO READ WITH PRECISION AND INSIGHT The world we are preparing our students to succeed in is one bound together by words and phrases. Our students learn their literature, history, math, science, or art via a firm foundation of strong reading skills. When we teach students to read with precision, rigor, and insight, we are truly handing over the key to the kingdom. Of all the subjects we teach reading is first among equals. Grounded in advice from effective classrooms nationwide, enhanced with more than 40 video clips, Reading Reconsidered takes you into the trenches with actionable guidance from real-life educators and instructional champions. The authors address the anxiety-inducing world of Common Core State Standards, distilling from those standards four key ideas that help hone teaching practices both generally and in preparation for assessments. This 'Core of the Core' comprises the first half of the book and instructs educators on how to teach students to: read harder texts, 'closely read' texts rigorously and intentionally, read nonfiction more effectively, and write more effectively in direct response to texts. The second half of Reading Reconsidered reinforces these principles, coupling them with the 'fundamentals' of reading instruction—a host of techniques and subject specific tools to reconsider how teachers approach such essential topics as vocabulary, interactive reading, and student autonomy. Reading Reconsidered breaks an overly broad issue into clear, easy-to-implement approaches. Filled with practical tools, including: 44 video clips of exemplar teachers demonstrating the techniques and principles in their classrooms (note: for online access of this content, please visit my.teachlikeachampion.com) Recommended book lists Downloadable tips and templates on key topics like reading nonfiction, vocabulary instruction, and literary terms and definitions. Reading Reconsidered provides the framework necessary for teachers to ensure that students forge futures as lifelong readers.




Drama-based Pedagogy


Book Description

Drama-Based Pedagogy examines the mutually beneficial relationship between drama and education, championing the versatility of drama-based teaching and learning designed in conjunction with the classroom curriculum. Written by seasoned educators and based upon their own extensive experience in diverse learning contexts, this book bridges the gap between theories of drama in education and classroom practice.




The Creative Classroom


Book Description

The Creative Classroom provides teachers in grades PreK-6 with a number of creative drama strategies for use in the classroom, on a daily basis and across the curriculum. Designed for the teacher who may not have had any prior knowledge or experience with creative drama, the book presents activities that are uncomplicated and versatile with a step-by step procedural guide to help the teacher implement the activities successfully. The activities are ideal for the whole language classroom and their multi sensory approach makes them applicable to students of all learning styles. The techniques in the book can be used to reinforce and review subject matter as well as to promote language, comprehension, and thinking skills. Organized sequentially, from simple to the more complex, the instructional strategies allow teachers and students to risk in increments as they try something for the first time.




Dramatizing the Content with Curriculum-Based Readers Theatre, Grades 6-12


Book Description

No matter what the content area, one goal all teachers share is for students to actively engage in learning and achieve deep comprehension of required content material. This book will show teachers how to use Curriculum-Based Readers Theatre (CBRT) to increase students' motivation, active engagement with learning, and reading fluency. Unlike traditional readers theatre, which is typically limited to literature-based scripts, CBRT invites teachers and students to create scripts based on any topic, any work of literature, any textbook, or almost any collection of facts--Science scripts, Social Studies scripts, Language Arts scripts, and even Math scripts. CBRT can be easily incorporated into existing curriculum and classroom activities. Because this method emphasizes spoken words emphasized with gestures and sound effects-not staged action and movement-no theatrical training or background is necessary. The author's approach is clear and straightforward. She provides an in-depth explanation of what CBRT is and why it is a valid instructional strategy in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 details how to introduce CBRT to students. In Chapter 3, teachers learn how to collaborate with students on writing and revising an original CBRT script based on curriculum content. Chapter 4 covers ways to involve students in writing and assessing original CBRT scripts. Rehearsing, presenting, and assessing CBRT script performances are the topics of Chapter 5. Other resources found in the book's appendices are: --Twelve reproducible CBRT scripts from a variety of curriculum content areas --Eleven CBRT script templates or script "starters" that suggest a variety of contexts and opening lines to simplify the script creation process --Detailed instructions on the recommended computer formatting of a CBRT script




Acting It Out


Book Description

In Acting It Out, you’ll discover how to use drama in your ELA and social studies classrooms to boost student participation and foster critical thinking. With years of experience supervising arts integration programs in Chicago Public Schools, authors Juliet Hart, Mark Onuscheck, and Mary T. Christel offer practical advice for teachers in middle and high schools. Inside, you’ll find... Group activities to improve concentration, harness focus, and engage students of all abilities and learning styles in teamwork Close reading exercises that encourage students to think critically and build personal relationships with the text Strategies for integrating active approaches to dramatic literature, such as improvisation and scene work Ideas for using dramatic literature as a springboard for studying history and interdisciplinary studies Annotated reading lists that highlight each play’s content and recommended uses in ELA or social studies Throughout the book, you’ll also find handy tools such as reflection questions, handouts, and rubrics. By implementing the strategies in this book and allowing students to step into different roles from a text, you’ll improve reading comprehension and energize your classroom!




Teaching Reading & Comprehension to English Learners, K5


Book Description

As more English learners enroll in school each year, teachers and administrators are concerned with the large gap in reading and academic standing between ELs and students performing at grade level. This book addresses the language, literacy, and content instructional needs of ELs and frames quality instruction within effective schooling structures and the implementation of RTI.




Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties


Book Description

Practical, effective, evidence-based reading interventions that change students' lives Essentials of Understanding and Assessing Reading Difficulties is a practical, accessible, in-depth guide to reading assessment and intervention. It provides a detailed discussion of the nature and causes of reading difficulties, which will help develop the knowledge and confidence needed to accurately assess why a student is struggling. Readers will learn a framework for organizing testing results from current assessment batteries such as the WJ-IV, KTEA-3, and CTOPP-2. Case studies illustrate each of the concepts covered. A thorough discussion is provided on the assessment of phonics skills, phonological awareness, word recognition, reading fluency, and reading comprehension. Formatted for easy reading as well as quick reference, the text includes bullet points, icons, callout boxes, and other design elements to call attention to important information. Although a substantial amount of research has shown that most reading difficulties can be prevented or corrected, standard reading remediation efforts have proven largely ineffective. School psychologists are routinely called upon to evaluate students with reading difficulties and to make recommendations to address such difficulties. This book provides an overview of the best assessment and intervention techniques, backed by the most current research findings. Bridge the gap between research and practice Accurately assess the reason(s) why a student struggles in reading Improve reading skills using the most highly effective evidence-based techniques Reading may well be the most important thing students are taught during their school careers. It is a skill they will use every day of their lives; one that will dictate, in part, later life success. Struggling students need help now, and Essentials of Understanding and Assessing Reading Difficulties shows how to get these students on track.




Drama and the Adolescent Journey


Book Description

Adolescence is a tough time for secondary students as well as for you, their teachers and support professionals. Being no longer a child, but not quite an adult, teens need a safe, enjoyable outlet that engages them and gives them a chance to talk about their feelings. Drama can be that outlet, and in Drama and the Adolescent Journey, you'll find ways to use dramatic enactments to help adolescents make a successful transition to adulthood. In Drama and the Adolescent Journey you'll discover a variety of drama activities that start students on a journey toward greater self-esteem and maturity. Teens will learn to situate their experience within their own lives and within the world at large. With a strong research base beneath them, Linda Nelson and Lanell Finneran demonstrate both why and how drama can help students enjoy their journey, show them ways around the roadblocks they may meet, and offer them a sense of how far they've come and where they'd like to be going. In addition, they offer crucial strategies for success with: understanding the developmental and behavioral changes of adolescence selecting content that truly engages adolescents and addresses their needs structuring drama activities to give teens the best possible support managing the activities and attending to the practical concerns of teaching with drama. Give teenagers the gift of self-knowledge. Read Drama and the Adolescent Journey and find a great new way to guide them through one of life's toughest times.




Tableau Classroom Drama Activities


Book Description

Tableau is the theatrical technique in which actors freeze in poses that create a picture of one significant moment in the play. Stillness and silence are the hallmarks of Tableau, so it's understandable why this drama strategy appeals to teachers for classroom use! But to really get the most out of Tableau work that enhances the reading of a story, novel, play, or text book, student actors have to do deeper reading, thinking, and rehearsing. This HOW TO guide gives teachers a detailed approach to leading student actors in the creation of effective, productive, artistic, and meaningful use and extension of Tableau drama strategies. Tableau with Lines of Dialogue: Tableau drama activities can be expanded by the creation and incorporation of dialogue. Learn how to enrich the Tableau drama experience by inviting student actors to create dialogue and deepen the inferences they make about what the characters in a Tableau are thinking and feeling. Human Slide Shows are series of Tableau-several frozen pictures presented in chronological order to show what happened first, second, third, etc. in a sequence of events. To create the frozen, silent, concentrated poses, students must think like actors and directors who read to understand events and make artistic choices about how to stage the action so that an audience understands or infers what happens. This guide provides step-by-step instructions, classroom management recommendations, examples from curriculum, reproducible task descriptions, and assessment criteria for use of this arts integrated teaching and learning strategy with students in Grades 3 and up.