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To me, one of more difficult things about being a reader is explaining why I didn't like a novel without sounding like a) a jerk, b) a passive-aggressive dweeb, or c) a small-minded fool. The rub is thus: You want to be discerning, without sounding douchey. But that's so much easier said than done. What follows is a tip sheet I've developed based on my own reading, and as a connoisseur of book reviews. I hope it'll help.

Text-dependent questions do not require information or evidence from outside the text or texts; they establish what follows and what does not follow from the text itself. Eighty to ninety percent of the Reading Standards in each grade require text-dependent analysis; accordingly, aligned curriculum materials should have a similar percentage of text dependent questions. When examining a complex text in depth, tasks should require careful scrutiny of the text and specific references to evidence from the text itself to support responses.

The power of certain books shared with children - whether a classroom, a small group or your own child at bedtime - cannot be undervalued - discussion, questioning, wonder, connecting and so much more.

Resource! Talk about a terrific primary source! In the summer of 1865, a former slave by the name of Jourdan Anderson sent a letter to his former master. And 147 years later, the document reads as richly as it must have back then.

Wow, this is a brilliant WIKI full of wonderful web2.0 resources! I like how the categories are sorted/organized.

Great science inquiry resource.

Using Criteria to make decisions Youtube Video

Recognizing bias: This 2 ½ minute video uses a pizza restaurant ad to give students a succinct introduction to the concept of bias. It also presents three specific questions students can ask to detect bias in the media and their daily lives. (Social studies, Social responsibility, Literacy)