1st Edition
Teaching the Common Core Literature Standards in Grades 2-5 Strategies, Mentor Texts, and Units of Study
Shifting your literature instruction to meet the Common Core can be tricky. The standards are specific about how students should analyze characters, themes, point of view, and more. In this new book, Lisa Morris makes it easy by taking you through the standards and offering tons of practical strategies, tools, and mentor texts for grades 2-5. She shows you how to combine the standards into effective units of study so that you can teach with depth rather than worry about coverage. Topics covered include:
- Teaching questioning, inferring, and author’s purpose;
- Guiding readers to look at themes and write summaries;
- Showing students how to recognize structural elements of literature;
- Teaching the craft of writing and vocabulary development; and
- Helping students analyse characters and character development.
Throughout this highly practical book, you’ll find a variety of charts and other graphic organizers that can be easily adapted for classroom use. A list of suggested mentor texts is also available as a free eResource from our website, www.routledge.com/books/details/9781138856172.
Meet the Author
Chapter One: Embracing the Language of the Standards and Creating a Curriculum
General Information About the Common Core State Standards
Key Shifts for English Language Arts and Literacy
Key Features of the Standards
Common Concerns of the Standards
Reasons I Have Embraced the Standards
An Overview of the Reading Standards for Literature
My Curriculum Crates
A Glimpse at My Notes
Explaining My Methodology
I Can Statements
It Takes a Village
Looking Beyond Your Own Grade Level
Hard Work Pays Off
Units of Study: Depth not Coverage
Content Area Reading
Resources for Teachers
Common Core Resources
Choice Boards
Closing Thoughts
Chapter Two: Questioning, Inferring, and Author’s Purpose: A Likely Trio for Comprehension
I Can Statements
Another Look at My Notes
Questioning and Inferring – Intertwining the Two
Starting from the Beginning
Quality Questioning
Breaking down the Verbiage
Generic Organizers for Responding to Reading
Descriptions with Evidence
Coding Questions
Flip-It
Asking Questions
Mentor Texts for Questioning
Three Ways to Ask Questions
Going Deeper Within the Study
What Is A Prediction?
Mentor Texts for Predicting
Making Predictions from the Blurb
What is an Inference?
Text-based Inferences
Layering the Instruction
Thinking Stems for Inferring
Inferring with Poetry, Pictures, and Wordless Books
Poem Examples and Inference Questions
Questions to Help Make Inferences
Inference Answer
Additional Resources for Poetry
Mentor Texts for Poetry
The Power of Pictures
Inferring with Wordless Picture Books
Inferring vs. Predicting
Predicting and Inferring Bookmarks
A Closer Look at Author’s Purpose
Keeping a Running Record
Closing Thoughts
Chapter Three: Guiding Students to Write Sensational Summaries and Recognize Themes
I Can Statements
Another Look at My Notes
The Importance of Summarizing
Why Use Summarizing in the Classroom?
What Makes a Good Summary?
Summarizing Versus Retelling
Why Use Retelling in the Classroom?
How do we Use Retelling in the Classroom?
Determining Importance
Thinking within the Text: The Backpack Analogy
Summarizing to Evaluate Comprehension
Looking Closer at Themes
Using Themes to Tie in Writing Instruction
Additional Ways to Teach Themes
Using Quotes to Tie in Themes and Messages
Thematic Conflict
Some Sample Thematic T-Charts
Excellent Resources for Incorporating a Genre Study
Keeping on Track
Choice Board
Closing Thoughts
Chapter Four: Reading with Close Comprehension Through Character Analysis and Story Elements
I Can Statements
Another Look at My Notes
Character Analysis
A Chance Meeting
Why a Unit of Study on Characters?
Mentor Texts and Author Choices
Possible Mini-Lessons for Character Analysis
Cause and Effect
Signal Words
Mentor Texts for Teaching Cause and Effect
Organizers for Documenting Cause and Effect Relationships
The Domino Effect
Choice Board
Closing Thoughts
Chapter Five: Reading Closely to Recognize the Importance of Craft and Vocabulary Development
I Can Statements
Another Look at My Notes
The Craft of Writing
Reading like a Writer
Teaching Students to Notice Craft of Language
Four Categories of Craft
Activities and Mentor Texts for Teaching Word Craft
Vivid Verbs
Strong Verbs
Mentor Texts for Teaching Strong Verbs
Similes
All About Similes
Idioms
Hyperbole
Activities and Mentor Texts for Teaching Audible Craft
Tying in Vivid Vocabulary
Graphic Organizers to Aid Vocabulary Study
Monitoring the Mood and Tone
Passage Samples
Mood Task Cards
Identifying the Author’s Tone or Mood
Connecting with Illustrations
Illustration Task Cards
Choice Board
Closing Thoughts
Chapter Six: Recognizing the Structural Elements of Prose, Poetry, and Drama
I Can Statements
Another Look at My Notes
Comparing Prose, Poetry, and Drama
A Chart to Keep Focused
Keeping Track of Reading Selections
Taking a Genre Walk
Teaching Students to be Pros at Prose
Poetry
Rhythm
Digging Drama
Point of View
Thought Provoking Activities for Point of View
Choice Board
Closing Thoughts
Appendix
Biography
Lisa Morris is a language arts teacher at Bluewater Elementary in Niceville, Florida and an adjunct professor of education at Northwest Florida State College. She is also author of Awakening Brilliance in the Writer’s Workshop: Using Notebooks, Mentor Texts, and the Writing Process (Routledge, 2012).
"I highly recommend this book! Lisa Morris provides teachers with so many fantastic ideas and activities to use in literature instruction that aligns with the Common Core State Standards. I felt like I was right there in Morris’ classroom as she described these instructional methods. This book also includes many mentor texts that teachers can use in their classrooms and even organizes those mentor texts based on the standards with which they are aligned. Both new and veteran teachers can certainly benefit from this resource!"
--Sean Ruday, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of English Education, Longwood University and author of The Common Core Grammar Toolkit books.
"As a cheerleader for teachers, Morris gives readers an instant boost in curriculum confidence. Practical in every way, this book empowers educators to make the Common Core manageable and meaningful with the classroom-tested mini lessons and effective teaching sequences. Can't wait to share with my colleagues!"
--Karina Nevers, Learning Strategist, Las Vegas, NV
"Everyone needs someone in their “corner” to guide them and to motivate them. I found this book to be educationally motivating from beginning to end. What is unique about Morris’ book is that her suggested activities can be easily adapted or modified to meet each grade level."
--Linda Biondi, MIDDLEWEB
