To+Understand

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= = =To Understand : New Horizons in Reading Comprehension = By Ellin Oliver Keene

Synopsis
Mosaic of Thought and its followers have created hundreds of thousands of classrooms where teachers model reading strategies, and students probe meaning more deeply. But no book in the field has answered the question: What does it mean to comprehend? Until now.

In To Understand, Ellin Oliver Keene discovers what's really behind comprehension. She identifies specific Dimensions and Outcomes of Understanding-characteristics of readers with a highly developed ability to make sense of text. Then she demonstrates how to leverage the Dimensions and Outcomes into relevant, effective instruction.

To Understand proposes a model that incorporates all aspects of literacy instruction and describes how teachers can focus on what matters most. Keene shows that when teachers target the most essential content, they can help every student engage more deeply with texts and discover a passion for reading and learning. Her model is founded on four simple but powerful concepts: Focus on what's important, Use research-based teaching and learning strategies, Teach essential concepts over a long period of time, Give students numerous opportunities to apply these concepts. With To Understand, you'll learn to draw out students' intellectual interests and spark improvements in their literacy learning and comprehension-even among students who struggle. You'll see that teaching the Outcomes and Dimensions of Understanding can help readers exceed expectations and also help broaden your vision of their capacity and energy for learning.

There's still more-much more-to learn about comprehension. Read To Understand, join Ellin Oliver Keene, and discover that what's at the very core of comprehension can not only reinvigorate your teaching but take your students to new, uncharted levels of learning.