The Reading Coach
Research-based concepts, ready-to-use tools, and extensions for learning provided by your own online
Reading Coach.
Using Micro-Text to Teach Writing
In education, micro-texts refer to small, targeted bits of a book, essay, poem, newspaper, online publication, or other text. A micro-text can be a single phrase, sentence, or paragraph. Its selection for teaching writing depends not only on brevity, but also on its content.
Integrating Reading and Writing Instruction into Content-Area Classrooms
“The 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress reports that less than one third of U.S. high school students read or write at grade level. What can local schools do?”
Conferencing with Young Writers: Time, Content and Purpose:
Conferencing with young or inexperienced writers can be challenging. For them to become writers, it must become personal. How can we help students discover that writer within through our conferencing time with them?
Strategies for Teaching Editing
“What we must keep in mind at all times, as author and editor Arthur Plotnik reminds us, is ‘We write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what’s burning inside. We edit to let the fire show through the smoke.’”
Understanding and Teaching Revision
“Revision is the second most important part of writing (after the idea). Revising denotes stepping back and looking at content…removing a perfectly good sentence because it doesn’t belong, adding details or clarification, tightening language….”
Strategies for Teaching Pre-Writing
“Good writing doesn’t start with formulas and formats. Thinking, defining what the writer wants to say, planning, and exploring -- that is where it begins. Use these strategies to help students realize they have powerful, important things to say.” Includes pre-writing tips for preparing for the SAT essay.
Teaching Writing as a Process
There are, in the real world, many ways to edit, revise, and organize writing. We help students develop strong writing skills when we not only teach them the steps in the process, but also guide them while they take risks and explore.
Discovering the Writers Within:
Skill-based instruction is important, but we also must include the essential element of motivation. Convince students that writing is worthwhile and that their oral vocabulary and reading experiences give them tools to express themselves. Their skills will grow.
Summertime Reading:
Encourage parents to include reading in their summer plans, and help them keep their kids reading by making summertime reading different than “that stuff I do at school.”
Exploring Writing Through Children’s Books
This article explores how to teach ‘paragraph structure’ and ‘use of details to support topic’ through the picture book, When Jesse Came Across the Sea, by Amy Hest.
Fluency is More Than Just Speed:
These classroom-ready tips focus on the most neglected area of fluency -- expressiveness. Improve your students’ fluency b providing opportunities for them to practice phrasing, expression, emphasis, and volume.
Targeting Standards with Picture Books
Children’s picture books can be used effectively to teach many of the core standards. Learn which picture books you can use to teach about story elements, literature genres, and writing.
Helping Students Make Independent Connections
Do your students use specific strategies during times set side for strategy instruction but fail to use those same strategies in independent reading? Help kids make the connection between instructional strategies and independent reading with Tools Of The Trade.
Making the Most of Guided Reading:
Three tips for making the most of guided reading.
Multiple Groupings and Student Achievement
The Reading Coach discusses multiple groupings and explores how you can use small group instruction and learning
circles to engage every child in grade-level experiences.
Phonological Weakness and Struggling Readers
Learn why phonological awareness -- the understanding that speech and the sounds of language can be broken into
smaller units -- is important to all emerging readers.
Every Minute Counts: Layering Instruction
The pace of instruction seems our first enemy -- making it imperative that we create multiple opportunities to
enforce what we most want children to learn. Discover how to make every minute count in your classroom.
Improving Fluency in Struggling Readers
There is much more to fluency than speed. Fluency is critically connected with how readers deal with print and
gain meaning from it. We need to look at teaching and assessing fluency as a triangle with three important sides...
Sustained Silent Reading in the Classroom
Independent silent reading has been viewed as a time-honored educational tool. Yet today, many teachers sacrifice
it for direct instruction, arguing that there are more effective ways to spend the time. What do the experts say?
The Face of Effective Vocabulary Instruction
Did you know that student vocabulary should increase by 2,000-3,000 words a year -- and about 400 of those words
should be taught directly? But how do you do it? What activities effectively build student vocabulary? Try these
tips from Cathy Puett Miller.
Engaged Reading
Engaging all students in active, thinking, reading is vital. Centering reading around student interests, motivation,
and self-concept is how we give every student a reason to read.
Beyond Comprehension Strategies
Cathy Puett Miller discusses a multi-faceted approach to teaching comprehension, including five additions to the
NRP's suggested reading curriculum; additions proposed by Michael Graves, University of Minnesota professor and
researcher.
Reflection:
A Key Element in Teacher and Student Evaluation
Now that the school year is nearly over, the time has come to reflect upon the past year, and honestly assess
what we did well and what we can do better. In this column, Cathy Puett Miller provides checklists for both teacher
and student self-assessment.
Creating A Reading Community
Make it your goal this year to transform your classroom into one that has positive assessments, and strong and engaged
learners -- by declaring reading an empowering, engaging, life-enhancing experience.
Getting Parents Involved
Highlight the power of reading at home with your parents and students by setting up your own "Is Your Home Reader
Friendly?" program.
Discovering the Writer in Every Student
Are you tired of "What I Did on My Summer Vacation?" Do you want to move your students beyond weak, formulaic writing? Cathy Puett Miller tells you how.
Reader's Theater Scripts and Teacher's Guides
Snack Attack
Fruit and Vegetables vie for the attention of two kids looking for snacks.
Lace Up Against Bullying
When they learn that a new classmate was bullied for wearing shoelaces with unusual colors, two students create a unique plan that rallies everyone in their school to take a stand against bullying.
The Strange Case of S.C.
A doctor invites the family and friends of S.C., a patient with Hectic Holiday Disorder, to share their story with a scientific panel. Can S.C. be cured of his obsession with the family business?
Victor's Victuals
An encounter with a lunchtime bully leads one boy to join the crusade against hunger. But can Victor's work with the food bank -- and his new perspective on hunger -- turn Bull around too?
Good to Be Green
Little Gerry Green Thumb has applied to become the newest character in Nursery Rhyme Kingdom. Will the admissions committee look beyond his unique appearance and accept him into their group?
How the Camel Got His Hump
At the beginning of the world, there is much work to do. But while others carry the load, the camel refuses to help. So the magical Wizard of All Deserts teaches the lazy animal an important lesson.
Special Assignment
Zoe Brown thinks her assignment for her class’s Web site project is boring. But she changes her mind when her research takes her to an unusual site full of important information.
Uptown Mouse and Country Mouse
When Uptown Mouse and his cousin City Mouse exchange visits, each finds the other's way of life quite unappealing. In the end, both mice find that home is truly where you make it.
Cooks’ Challenge
It’s a battle of culinary creativity when a nursery rhyme character competes in an unusual contest against a famous chef on a popular cooking show. The surprising results stun everyone.
Writer's Block
When his teacher assigns what seems like a simple writing exercise, John discovers he’s out of ideas -- until characters from his imagination help him overcome "writer's block."
The Field Trip to Remember
When Allie and Scott accidentally take a wrong turn on a class field trip, they find themselves in a mysterious gallery where they learn some fascinating facts about presidents’ pets!
Neila in the Neighborhood
Neila, a visitor from another planet, stops in a small town and visits a store, library, school, restaurant, gas station, and bank. Everywhere she goes, Neila's confusion and odd behavior cause chaos.
The Incredible Animal Race
King Lawrence and Queen Lavinia have chosen two animal teams to compete in the Animal Kingdom’s annual race. To many, the outcome for the contest seems obvious. But a surprising twist brings an amazing finish!
The
Other Cinderella Story
When Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters announce the release of their new book about her childhood, their
press conference reveals shocking "truths" about the would-be queen!
The Spelling Ace
When a fifth grader has an unusual event with alphabet soup, he becomes a "spelling ace," and a spelling bee is
coming up tomorrow! But is his "spelling spell" a blessing or a curse?
Can Humpty Dumpty Be Saved?
When Humpty Dumpty is injured in a fall, the king offers a reward to anyone who can help save him. Prospects for recovery look grim until twin computer geniuses use technology to help put Humpty
back together again.
A Turkey Takes a Stand
As the holiday season approaches, Trevor Turkey makes a shocking proposal. He calls for a new law that would take
turkey off the Thanksgiving menu -- and put an end to a beloved (by almost all!) national tradition.
Holiday High Jinks
When a feuding cat and dog realize that their family is abandoning them for the holidays, they team up with a
mouse named Moose to change the course of events. What transpires is a fun tale of friendship with a twist.
A Mysterious Message
As a school celebrates its 100th birthday, workers find a large box buried on school grounds. Inside is a paper
on which is written a century-old code. Can a group of students decipher its secret meaning?
Ask the Presidents
While researching online, Penny discovers a Web site for U.S. presidents. In the site's very special chat room,
she chats with former leaders and discovers what they believe are the most
important qualities in a president.
Dancing with the Nursery Rhyme Stars
Popular nursery rhyme characters face-off the in the final round of a dance contest! It's a battle of fancy footwork
as the contestants vie for a pot of gold. At the end of the show, the winners make a surprising announcement!
Hen-Picked
The hardworking Little Red Hen is a chicken that has laid a golden egg. She has a thriving pastry business and
now hopes to relax a little and enjoy her success. But to do that, she needs an apprentice. Who should it be?
A Mother's Day Surprise
Two siblings go to the mall to find a special Mother's Day gift for their mom. With help from some unusual sources,
the pair learns that the best presents don't have to be expensive or come wrapped in
a big fancy box.
Bus Yard Blues
Bernard, a shiny yellow school bus hopes a coat of paint and new wheels will make his young riders sit up and take notice, but he finds them infatuated with fast cars instead. Can Bernard's buddies convince him he's special?
Will the Music Play?
To mark the 50th anniversary of Symphony Land's world-famous Classical Music Festival, some musicians want to play modern music; others want to stick with the traditional. Will the dispute stop the music?
Rapunzel's Rap
Queen Beetifah, the leader of a hive near Rapunzel's tower, raps about the princess with long, golden hair who was locked away and found by a music-loving prince.
Reading Tips
 The
Reading Ready Classroom
If you want to instill in your students an awareness of the importance of reading, your classroom must provide
an environment in which reading is clearly valued.
Start the Year Off "Write"
Research indicates that writing, by engaging students in creating and discovering meaning, improves reading comprehension.
Start this year off "write" by encouraging your students to read and write.
How to Read Aloud
Teachers who read aloud in class model fluent reading, improve students' fluency, and increase students' ability
to understand written text. Eight tips for getting the maximum benefit from reading aloud.
When to Read Aloud
Read aloud daily to your students, the experts urge. Reading increases students' knowledge of the world, their
vocabulary, their familiarity with written language, and their interest in reading. Sounds terrific -- but when
will you find the time?
Creating Active Readers
Reading comprehension, like phonemic awareness, decoding, and fluency, can be taught. Here are some ideas
for keeping students involved in what they are reading, helping them improve their concentration and reading comprehension.
Reading in "Real" Life
Help your students see reading not as just another school subject, but as a valuable -- and enjoyable -- part
of their daily lives.
Our Favorite Books
Encourage students to reflect on their reading with these "favorite books" activities.
Let's Party!
Encourage independent reading by turning reading time into party time.
Beyond the Spelling List
Add another element to your students' spelling practice.
Reading and Writing Lessons
 Books
Give Us Wings
Students read and discuss letters written by young readers to the authors of books that "gave them wings."
Books That Make You Think, Books That Make You Feel
Page 1; Page
2
Students explore letters of readers who have been challenged and/or moved by what they read.
A Personal Letter From Lois Lowry.
Page 1; Page
2
A favorite author encourages students to explore how their reading experiences have changed over time.
Correspond, Don't Compliment
Weaving reader-response details into a letter to an author helps convey how a book changed the way you look at
yourself or the world.
Synthesize, Don't Summarize
Students learn how to weave reader-response details into author letters.
The Lead Paragraph
How to hook the reader in 25 words or less.
Bookends
Students learn how to close a letter.
A Few Words About Vocabulary
In this activity, students find better words to complete sentences.
You Be the Judge
Students use what they've learned to evaluate an entry in the Letters About Literature competition.
Letters About Literature Teaching Materials (Teacher's Guide)
Page 1; Page
2; Page 3; Page
4; Page 5; Assessment
Checklist; Letter-Writing Rubric | 
