Instructional+Resources

** “No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.” - Confucius  ** (Image provided by Microsoft Office Clipart)

//Instructional Resources for educators are just as necessary as the graphic organizers and materials that students use. We too have to take a step back and look at things from a new angle. The following sites explore materials that discuss differing philosophies and strategies for the classroom.//

[|"Subjects Matters: Every Teacher's Guide to Content-Area Reading" by Harvey Daniels and Steven Zemelman-] This is a teacher resource book for integrating reading across the curriculum. The district is using it as a conversation starter and tool during teacher workshop days. (*, ✰)

Digital Storytelling is a great way to engage students in interactive discussions around reading. They are able to take varying points of view from a story that is read or explore extensions to stories to better understand the characters. Digital storytelling is a great way to present research and show comprehension in a more hands on and creative approach. (***,** ✰, **◆,** **¤)**

Mind Tools is an interesting website that explores a step-by-step plan for reading strategies. It will help the more concrete/sequential learners (and educators). It targets the need of teachers. (*, ✰)

Kylene Beers offers great suggestions for developing reading skills in her book "When Kids Can't Read; What Teachers Can Do". She has a number of suggestions and strategies that start with decoding, build through inferences, and end with deeper thinking and true comprehension. Her book is meant for teachers 6-12. This is one of the books that our district uses to encourage district wide collaboration. (*, ✰)

Literacy Matters is an excellent resources for middle school teachers. It offers lesson plans, support materials, and programs that are research based. There are also parent pages and student pages. (*, ✰)

The Journey North program offers a great integrated unit opportunity. Along with the exploration of biology and geography, there is a whole section dedicated to reading strategies and activities. (***,** ✰, **◆,** **¤)**

Our social studies teacher, Paula Roy uses the Studies Weekly papers and their online reading supplements to engage her students in nonfiction. According to our test scores and those around the state, nonfiction is a weakness for our students. (*, ✰)

SCORE offers history and social studies teachers a wealth of resources. It is a guide to integrating valuable literacy strategies into the content area. (*, ✰)

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