Developing Competent Readers and Writers for Middle Grades

Developing Competent Readers and Writers for Middle Grades, 1/e

Martha Combs, University of Nevada, Reno

Published January, 1997 by Prentice Hall Career & Technology

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Reading Methods in the Middle School-Curriculum and Instruction

Summary

Using a holistic, interdisciplinary approach, this text explores, in-depth, the application of literature-based reading and writing in grades 4-8. It balances the use of authentic children's literature with a basal approach, and features class-tested models and examples that beginning teachers -- or those seeking new methods -- can apply directly to the classroom. Part I provides a straightforward discussion of theory; Part II applies the theory to practice.

Focuses on students in grades 4-8.
Explains how to use authentic children's literature to teach reading.
Uses a few core texts in depth, and repeatedly, as examples throughout.
Presents several options for organizing instruction. Outlines fully developed approaches to instruction for:
Whole-class instruction.
Small group instruction.
Individualized reading.
Features several case studies that follow practicing teachers as they put various literature-based reading and writing approaches to work in their classrooms.
Devotes whole chapters to:
The importance of reading aloud to students.
Introducing literature study through whole-class approaches.
Getting started with book clubs and literature circles.
Implementing readers' and writers' workshops.
Using basal readers from a literature-based perspective.
Using developmental word study, including phonics, to support reading and writing.
Teaching with thematic units.
Contains a fully developed whole-class literature study (Appendix A).
Features Your Turn . . . My Turn . . . exercises to help students process ideas and apply ideas to literature.
Contains In this Chapter overviews, Before You Begin notes on the literature to be used, and Take a Moment and Reflect summaries.
Lists appropriate literature.
Suggested lists for Word Study (Appendix).

Table of Contents
I. LEARNERS, PROCESSES, AND POSSIBILITIES.

1. Developing Competent Readers and Writers: An Introduction.
2. Growing Toward Maturity as Readers.
3. Growing Toward Maturity as Writers.
4. Growing Toward Maturity in Word Knowledge.

II. APPLYING METHODS AND STRATEGIES.