Close Reading of Informational Sources ~ Cummins

Close Reading of Informational Sources, Second Edition
Assessment-Driven Instruction in Grades 3-8
Sunday Cummins


This widely used teacher resource and course text—now significantly revised with 75% new content—provides a flexible approach to fostering high-level understanding of a wide variety of informational sources in grades 3–8. Through the lens of a new three-phase lesson plan, the author explains how to teach students to think critically about sources, monitor for meaning, identify main ideas, explain key details, and make sense of unfamiliar vocabulary. Now in a convenient large-size format, the second edition is packed with practical features, including a detailed study guide and links to recommended online videos. The companion website allows readers to download and print a reproducible lesson planning template and quick-reference tools, as well as additional resources referenced in the book. Prior edition title: Close Reading of Informational Texts.

New to This Edition

*Substantially revised and updated to reflect the ongoing development of the author's approach; lessons now comprise three clearly defined phases.

*Expanded to cover close "reading” of video, audio, and infographics, as well as traditional texts.

*Chapters on new topics: selecting sources and teaching the use of context clues to learn new vocabulary.

*Additional practical features: sidebars with clear explanations of comprehension strategies, sample lessons, examples of students’ written responses, suggestions for assessment, tips for follow-up instruction, companion website, and more.