Description: Contents Introduction: Understanding Students in the Middle Grades (Grade 3-8) Personal and Social Issues that Affect Education for Students in the Middle Grades A Guide to This Book I. Getting Ready for the School Year: Assessment and Materials 1. Assessment: Getting to Know Students as People and Learners What Is Assessment and Why Is It Important Getting to Know Students as People Getting to Know Students as Learners Issues in Choosing Appropriate Books Analyzing Students'' Reading Continual Assessments during Classroom Instruction 2. What Students Read and How to Get It Building a Classroom Collection to Support Learning and Engagement Other Important Featuers of a Well-Balanced Classroom Collection Books That "Fit": Guiding Students in Choosing Appropriate Books The Hardest Part: Acquiring Materials for Classroom Collections II. Reading and Writing Instruction 3. Reading Aloud to Students Why Read Aloud in the Middle Grades? Exposing Students to a Variety of Topics and Genres by Reading Aloud Promoting Engagement in Reading through Reading Aloud Giving Students Access to Materials They Cannot Yet Read on Their Own Creating a Context for Sharing Expertise about Reading and Writing Providing Opportunities for Personal Response, Discussion, and Inquiry Making Time for Reading Aloud 4. Just Reading Why Prioritize Independent, Self-Selected Reading? The Importance of Self-Selection: What Students Read on their Own What Teachers Do during Reading Time: Supporting, Teaching, and Assessing 5. Building Reading Fluency What Is Fluency and Why Is It Important? Elementary and Middle School Classrooms That Foster Reading Fluency Why Some Students Don''t Develop Adequate Fluency Traditional Fluency Instruction Purposeful Instruction That Targets Fluency Development Assessing Fluency Epilogue 6. Guiding Students to Read as Writers Tapping Personal Experience as a Source for Writing Thinking as an Author: Using Models from Literature Engagement and Writing: Developing Independence 7. Exploring Words Encouraging Language Play When Do I Teach Grammar? What about Spelling? Using Students'' Knowledge about Words to Guide Instruction 8. Guiding Students to Act as Researchers Why Focus on Research? Learning about the Research Process Setting UP Clear Steps for Research and the Writing Process Revisiting the Topic of Engagement in Research 9. Tailoring Instruction for Individual Students Meeting Students'' Needs in the Regular Instructional Program Extra Assistance for Students Who Struggle Current Views on Students Who Struggle in Literacy School Programs for Students Who Struggle in Literacy Instruction in Remedial and Special Education Programs What Kinds of Instruction Do Struggling Learners Need? A Plan for Meeting the Needs of Struggling Learners Exploring Options for Additional Assistance Learning More about Helping Struggling Learners APPENDICES Appendix A. Graphic Organizers for Reading and Writing A.1. Expository Writing: Sequence Chart A.2. Expository Writing: Cause and Effect A.3. Expository Writing: Description A.4. Expository Writing: Problem and Solution A.5. Expository Writing: Comparison A.6. Narrative Writing A.7. Concept Web A.8. Persuasive Writing: Editorial Appendix B. Forms and Record Keeping B.1. Project Checklist for a Simulated Journal B.2. Content Editing Checklist for Narrative Writing B.3. Blank Content Editing Checklist B.4. Mechanics Editing Checklist for Narrative Writing B.5. Blank Mechanics Editing Checklist B.6. Evaluation Form for Content Area Poetry Collection: Free Verse B.7. Blank Evaluation Form B.8. Interview for the First Day of School B.9. Reading Attitudes Survey B.10. Reading Preference Survey B.11. Reading and Writing Habits Survey Appendix C. Literature for Children and Adolescents C. 1. Poetry C.2. Picture Book Sets: Literary Analysis and Teaching Writing C.3. Short Chapter Books and Short Stories C.4. Text Sets for Thematic Studies C.5. Nonfiction Models for Teaching Expository Writing C.6. Diversity in Realistic Fiction Appendix D. Resources for Teaching Reading and Writing D.1. Professional Resources for Teachers D.2. Professional Journals D.3. Magazines for Children and Young Adults D.4. Resources on the World Wide Web Appendix E. Charles: A Case Study of a Less Skilled Reader in the Middle Grades

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