Private: Teaching Reading: 3-5 Workshop

Professional Development > Private: Teaching Reading: 3-5 Workshop > 9. Featured Classrooms

Featured Classrooms

Classroom Videos

Investigating Word Meaning
Teacher: Angie Zapata
Grade 3, Mathews School, Austin, TX

Using a passage from Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White, Angie Zapata teaches her third-graders how to use context clues to discover the meaning of unfamiliar words. Ms. Zapata’s mini-lesson also models individual and small group work.

Fostering Book Discussions
Teacher: Maria Ruiz-Blanco
Grade 3, Belmont-Cragin School, Chicago, IL

Maria Ruiz-Blanco’s third-grade class uses immigration as a topic for a book group and writing exercise. Working in groups, students discuss what they read, ask questions, and make connections to their own lives.

Choosing Words Strategically
Teacher: Caroline Cockman
Grade 3, Rashkis Elementary School, Chapel Hill, NC

Caroline Cockman’s third-grade class is learning how to revise biographies using transitions and more descriptive nouns. A whole-group exercise models the revision process, and small-group instruction focuses on students who need extra help in writing.

Revising for Clarity
Teacher: Tatiana With
Grade 4, Heath School, Brookline, MA

Through a whole class mini-lesson and small group work, Tatiana With and her fourth-grade class explore the difference between editing and revising, with a focus on revision. In this lesson, Ms. With uses InFocus technology to model revision of an Indian folk tale.

Reading Across the Curriculum
Teacher: Gage Reeves
Grade 5, Vernon School, Portland, OR

Gage Reeve’s mixed-grade class is learning new vocabulary and main ideas in a lesson on global warming. Students write their questions and use an idea tree to record main ideas and supporting details.

Looking at Cause and Effect
Teacher: Holly Concannon
Grade 5. Murphy School, Boston, MA

Holly Concannon and her fifth-grade class discuss cause and effect in a passage from Gary Paulsen’s book, Woodsong. The lesson models grouping students for independent reading, as well as guided reading.

Close Reading for Understanding
Teacher: Dana Robertson
Grade 5, Estabrook School, Lexington, MA

Fifth-grade teacher Dana Robertson models strategic reading, and teaches his students the strategies readers use to comprehend the text. He then continues with small-group instruction while other students work independently.

Summarizing Nonfiction
Teacher: Eleanor Demont
Grade 5, Heath School, Brookline, MA

Eleanor Demont’s fifth-grade class completes a mini-lesson using summarization as a comprehension strategy for reading non-fiction texts. Students examine the importance of differentiating what is interesting from what is important in a social studies unit on ancient Egypt.

Series Directory

Private: Teaching Reading: 3-5 Workshop

Sections

9.1 Investigating Word Meaning

Using a passage from Charlotte's Web by E. B. White, Angie Zapata teaches her third graders how to use context clues to discover the meaning of unfamiliar words. Ms. Zapata's mini-lesson also models individual and small group work, as well book groups. (Optional classroom program)

9.2 Fostering Book Discussions

Third-grade teacher Maria Ruiz-Blanco is piloting the use of book club in her bilingual classroom. The class is starting a new book, My Name Is Maria Isabel, in their year-long unit on immigration. Working in groups, students discuss what they read, ask questions, and make connections to their own lives. (Optional classroom program)

9.3 Choosing Words Strategically

Caroline Cockman's third grade class is learning how to revise biographies using transitions and more descriptive nouns. A whole-group exercise models the revision process, and small group instruction focuses on students who need extra help in writing. (Optional classroom program)

9.4 Revising for Clarity

Through a whole class mini-lesson and small group work, Tatiana With and her fourth-grade class explore the difference between editing and revising, with a focus on revision. In this lesson, Ms. With uses IN-Focus technology to model revision of an Indian folk tale. (Optional classroom program)

9.5 Reading Across the Curriculum

Gage Reeve's class is learning new vocabulary in a lesson on global warming. Students also use an idea tree to record main ideas and supporting details and write their own questions to be answered after reading the nonfiction text. (Optional classroom program)

9.6 Looking at Cause and Effect

Holly Concannon and her fifth-grade class discuss cause and effect in a passage from Gary Paulsen's book, Wood Song. The lesson models grouping students for independent reading, as well as guided reading. (Optional classroom program)

9.7 Close Reading for Understanding

Fifth-grade teacher Dana Robertson models strategic reading, and teaches his students the strategies readers use to comprehend the text. He then continues with small group instruction while other students work independently. (Optional classroom program)

9.8 Summarizing Nonfiction

Eleanor Demont's fifth-grade class completes a mini-lesson using summarization as a comprehension strategy for reading nonfiction texts. Students examine the importance of differentiating what is interesting from what is important in a social studies unit on Ancient Egypt. (Optional classroom program)

Workshops

Workshop 1 Creating Contexts for Learning

This session examines how classroom organization, routines, and grouping practices can enhance literacy skills in the middle grades. Literacy expert Jeanne Paratore discusses teaching strategies that foster reading and writing skills. Classroom examples illustrate the research.

Workshop 2 Fluency and Word Study

This session focuses on how students in the middle grades develop vocabulary and reading fluency. Literacy expert Richard Allington discusses specific teaching strategies that help build fluency and vocabulary, illustrated by classroom examples.

Workshop 3 Building Comprehension

Comprehending text is one of the main goals of reading. In this session, literacy expert Nell Duke discusses what good readers do and strategies teachers can use to help students build comprehension skills. Classroom footage provides examples of comprehension strategies.

Workshop 4 Writing

This workshop examines the relationship between reading and writing in the middle grades. Literacy expert Nadeen Ruiz discusses the connections, conventions, and inventions that provide a framework for teaching writing, illustrated by classroom examples.

Workshop 5 New Literacies of the Internet

This workshop focuses on the evolving use of networked technology in education. Literacy expert Donald Leu discusses strategies that help students effectively read, write, and communicate on the Internet. Classroom examples illustrate strategies for using Internet resources in the classroom.

Workshop 6 Teaching English Language Learners

Changing classroom demographics call for a range or teaching strategies. In this session, literacy expert Robert Jim�nez discusses strategies teachers can use to create a successful learning environment for all students, while supporting English language learners. Classroom examples illustrate the research.

Workshop 7 Teaching Diverse Learners

In this session, literacy expert Dorothy Strickland discusses how teachers can meet the diverse needs of readers and writers in their classrooms. Classroom examples and teaching strategies address different aspects of diversity, including culture, language, background, ability, and learning approaches.

Workshop 8 Assessment and Accountability

This session explores assessment, standards, and outcomes. Literacy expert Kathy Au discusses the strategies teachers can use to assess students' understanding in reading and writing. Classroom examples illustrate how students can participate in their own assessment.