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Classroom Strategies Explicit strategy instruction is at the core of good comprehension instruction. "Before" strategies activate students' prior knowledge and set a purpose for reading. "During" strategies help students make connections, monitor their understanding, generate questions, and stay focused. "After" strategies provide students an opportunity to summarize, question, reflect, discuss, and respond to text. Teachers should help students to understand why a strategy is useful, how it is used, and when it is appropriate. Teacher demonstration and modeling are critical factors for success, and student discussion following strategy instruction is also helpful. The most frequently researched strategies can be applied across content areas; other content-area specific strategies are emerging, and we will include them here in the future.

"How do you effectively structure and guide classroom discussions about novels?" "What's the best way to get students to engage with texts?" "How can you ensure that students read the required chapters for homework? Mine never seem to do it." These questions and more are answered.

Online access to multicultural, multilingual picture books--free!

"Units of Study for Teaching Writing, Grades 3-5 offers crystal-clear advice on how to lead strong, efficient writing workshops in upper-elementary classrooms. "

"The Writing Workshop, similar to the Reading Workshop, is a method of teaching writing using a workshop method. Students are given opportunities to write in a variety of genres and helps foster a love of writing. The Writing Workshop allows teachers to meet the needs of their students by differentiating their instruction and gearing instruction based on information gathered throughout the workshop."

"10 Ways to Develop Expository Writing Skills With The New York Times"

Great ideas for mentor text lessons focusing on the six traits of writing, using picture books at grade levels 3-12

"Launching Readers' Workshop"

Resource for our first readers' workshop unit written by Stevi Quate

Memoir feature articles

"Lesson Plan Postmodern Picture Books in Middle School"

"Lesson Plan Thoughtshots Can Bring Your Characters to Life!"

"Writing the Memoir (with help from Barry Lane)" Focuses on "baby steps" and "thoughtshots"

Interactive Fiction Tutorial