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Critical writing depends on critical reading. Most of the papers you write will involve reflection on written texts - the thinking and research that has already been done on your subject. In order to write your own analysis of this subject, you will need to do careful critical reading of sources and to use them critically to make your own argument. The judgments and interpretations you make of the texts you read are the first steps towards formulating your own approach.

"ow well do your students learn when they read online? What are the outcomes of on-screen reading compared with reading in print? Current research suggests that reading online results in lower understanding and less critical reflection. What might this mean for our students' learning and for society?"

"There are different ways you can include read-alouds within your classroom routines. You can use them as a warm-up for the day's lesson or integrate them as part of a larger unit of study about reading or writing effectively. Students can even use read-alouds themselves to go on self-guided reading and writing journeys. I'll share with you a lesson where I used a read-aloud to teach writing and then share examples of independent interdisciplinary projects that students can do."

In countless studies to discover the critical elements that lead to successful reading, countless successful readers have replied that they were surrounded by books in the home and the bedtime read-aloud was a nightly ritual. Read tips on how to read aloud and how to choose the 'right' book.

"Every student can read a novel, and teaching students to read novels in school helps them develop critical reading skills for texts and the world. Some students appear unwilling to read because of a variety of challenges both inside and outside the classroom."

How the Language Really Works: The Fundamentals of Critical Reading and Effective Writing

A teaching strategy to help students make connections between the ideas in readings, their own experiences and beliefs, and events in history and the world. Facing History offers teaching strategies that nurture students growth; literacy and critical thinking skills within a respectful classroom climate. By giving a purpose to students' reading (i.e. focusing students on paying close attention to text to find connections), this strategy helps students comprehend and make meaning of the ideas in the text. This strategy can be used when reading any text - historical or literary - and it can also be used with other media as well, including films. It can be used at the beginning, middle or end of the reading process - to get students engaged with a text, to help students understand the text more deeply or to evaluate students' understanding of the text.

Students need good reading skills not just in English but in all classes. Here are some ways you can help them develop those skills. However, teaching reading skills in English classes and across the disciplines is an almost guaranteed way to help students retain content. Unfortunately, the tendency to focus on the content is a real enemy to the ultimate goal of building reading skills.

Strategies to cultivate independent thinking abilities through what you read, but more importantly, how you read.

Including: previewing, contextualising, questioning, reflecting, outlining and summarising, evaluation and comparing and contrasting. These strategies can also be applied to critical writing.

This handout suggests reading, note-taking, and writing strategies for when you need to use reading assignments or sources as the springboard for writing a paper.

"How, in this data-heavy world, are we supposed to convince young people that reading books matters? That the stories they consume while turning the pages are exercising their brains to become better at critical thinking and problem solving?"

A gateway to a series of literature response activities that support and reflect values in education and could be adapted to support the Australian Curriculum General Capabilities and Cross Curriculum Priorities. Examples are over a decade old but the for layout and critical thinking strategies embedded are still relevant.

" When students are able to fully "read" images, they can understand beyond the text and delve deeply into the author's message. Imagine close reading, but instead of text, they're examining images. Visual literacy encompasses the ability to effectively find, interpret, evaluate, use, and create images and visual media."

"Books that explore cultural identity provide a foundation for instructional practices that develop cultural contexts and diverse perspectives. While creating a diverse reading list is important, the instructional approach, using the book as a foundation, is also critical to developing cultural competency and understanding."

As teachers, one of our most critical jobs is to create independent readers. Getting kids excited about books is the first and most crucial step on this journey. The more passionate students are about books, the more they read, and the more they read, the better they get. Making book commercials-or persuasive pieces to inspire their peers-is one great way to help students share their excitement about books with each other and create a community of passionate readers.

"With the growth of the 21st-century learning movement, many educators now look to the 4C's framework for the skills that are most important for student success. As opposed to the 20th-century 3 R's framework that purported reading, (w)riting, and 'rithmetic as the three most important skills for students to know, the 4C's indicate communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity as the principal components of a 21st-century learner."

"Whether you are guiding students through content yourself or having students read, research, or watch a video, the WICK charting process gives students an easy-to-implement method to deepen their engagement during this portion of your lesson. Instead of being stuck in sit-and-get mode, they will shift into sit-and-get-and-scrutinize-and-discuss mode as they process the lesson."

In an age where the majority of us get our news through social media, the rise of fake news sites, hoaxes and misinformation online is concerning, especially considering that many young people lack the skills necessary to judge the credibility of information they encounter online.

Postmodern picture books for secondary school students provide a rich area for teaching and learning. Postmodern literature and visual texts, because of their unresolved nature, provide avenues for critical analysis.