Utilizing the Library in Your Classroom for Instructional Purposes
From Advancing Differentiation: Thinking and Learning for the 21st Century by Richard M. Cash, Ed.D., copyright 2011
Reading critically is different from reading for pleasure. Students read critically to discover information. Often classroom libraries are set-up by teachers in a corner of the classroom and filled with a variety of books for students to choose from. It has been my experience that these libraries are not effective. I have observed that students choose their book of choice for independent reading either through an online source, such as Big Universe or at the library, hence the basket of books in the classroom seem to collect dust and are seldom rotated throughout …show more content…
Provide varied levels of reading materials, from elementary to college-level texts and trade books and professional journals from the field of study. These materials will expose the learners to the professional language of the field of discipline, as well as provide a wider range of subject diversity. The students can then develop a professional vocabulary list.
Further, Richard M. Cash, Ed.D., elaborates on seven specific critical reading and thinking areas in Advancing Differentiation: Thinking and Learning for the 21st Century: Scanning or previewing - - Skimming - - Annotating or note taking - - Highlighting - - Contextualizing - - Reflecting - - Evaluating Arguments. Consequently, when these seven areas are facilitated by teacher instruction in the classroom library; as independent activities teacher differentiated, students acted; overall improvement in critical reading skills will be achieved.
1. Scanning or previewing – Students look for specific words or repeated words in the table of contents, section or chapter headings, and introduction or conclusion paragraphs. This is also an effective strategy to pique interest in the …show more content…
Contextualizing: Readers should investigate the historical, political, economic, and social context of the writing for greater understanding of the author’s lens. In this basket labeled “contextualizing” students may be asked to read and respond in their reading notebooks. Contextualization asks students to put information into context; making sense of information from the situation or location in which the information was found in time and place; to understand how these factors shape its content. An example would be, reading the following and answer the following questions: When and where was the document created? What was different then? What was the same? How might the circumstances in which the document was created affect its content?
6. Reflecting – Students should take notes on their thoughts and reflections on their own beliefs and values and compare and contrast them with the author’s. The “Reflection” basket is similar to contextualizing, except the student responses would be much more personal as they reflect on the text in a more personal
From Advancing Differentiation: Thinking and Learning for the 21st Century by Richard M. Cash, Ed.D., copyright 2011
Reading critically is different from reading for pleasure. Students read critically to discover information. Often classroom libraries are set-up by teachers in a corner of the classroom and filled with a variety of books for students to choose from. It has been my experience that these libraries are not effective. I have observed that students choose their book of choice for independent reading either through an online source, such as Big Universe or at the library, hence the basket of books in the classroom seem to collect dust and are seldom rotated throughout …show more content…
Provide varied levels of reading materials, from elementary to college-level texts and trade books and professional journals from the field of study. These materials will expose the learners to the professional language of the field of discipline, as well as provide a wider range of subject diversity. The students can then develop a professional vocabulary list.
Further, Richard M. Cash, Ed.D., elaborates on seven specific critical reading and thinking areas in Advancing Differentiation: Thinking and Learning for the 21st Century: Scanning or previewing - - Skimming - - Annotating or note taking - - Highlighting - - Contextualizing - - Reflecting - - Evaluating Arguments. Consequently, when these seven areas are facilitated by teacher instruction in the classroom library; as independent activities teacher differentiated, students acted; overall improvement in critical reading skills will be achieved.
1. Scanning or previewing – Students look for specific words or repeated words in the table of contents, section or chapter headings, and introduction or conclusion paragraphs. This is also an effective strategy to pique interest in the …show more content…
Contextualizing: Readers should investigate the historical, political, economic, and social context of the writing for greater understanding of the author’s lens. In this basket labeled “contextualizing” students may be asked to read and respond in their reading notebooks. Contextualization asks students to put information into context; making sense of information from the situation or location in which the information was found in time and place; to understand how these factors shape its content. An example would be, reading the following and answer the following questions: When and where was the document created? What was different then? What was the same? How might the circumstances in which the document was created affect its content?
6. Reflecting – Students should take notes on their thoughts and reflections on their own beliefs and values and compare and contrast them with the author’s. The “Reflection” basket is similar to contextualizing, except the student responses would be much more personal as they reflect on the text in a more personal