Title: Chart Sense: Common Sense Charts to Teach 3-8 Informational Text and Literature
Abstract: Chart Sense: Common Sense Charts to Teach 3-8 Informational Text and Literature by Rozlyn Linder, The Literacy Initiative, 2014, 189 pp., ISBN 978-0-9889505-1-1There is an increased emphasis on helping explore, read, and understand complex texts. In concert, are also expected to be able to produce clear and coherent understanding of these complex texts through writing in a variety of formats. The reading and writing expectations for are more demanding as a result of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS; National Governors Association Center for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010), and teachers are looking for instructional resources to help their meet those demands. Rozlyn Linder's book Chart Sense: Common Sense Charts to Teach 3-8 Informational Text and Literature is sure to be a popular professional text choice for teachers as they navigate the new reading and writing territory of the CCSS.Teachers have made use of anchor charts as an instructional and learning strategy in their classrooms for many years. These charts help learn and represent key ideas, vocabulary, concepts, and other important information being studied; they also help see the connections between reading and writing. Anchor charts are thinking charts that demonstrate proficient reading and writing; they are mental pictures, constituting visual representations of learning. Linder helps teachers use anchor charts in intentional ways to address the increasing reading and writing demands of the CCSS.In her introduction, Linder contends that charts are beneficial to all because they help readers and writers make sense of complex texts. Linder makes it clear that teachers are creating these charts with their collaboratively so that students will have a shared sense of ownership over the content (p. 13), which further promotes increased interest and engagement for students. It is clear that Linder's charts are just one way teachers can differentiate learning in their classrooms.Linder also acknowledges there are many types of charts; however, she has classified her charts into four key areas: ritual, toolbox, classification, and interactive. She then goes on to explain that ritual charts offer basic rules for student to follow that can include such things as class expectations, procedures, and routines. Because these charts are static, Linder does not include these in her book. Toolbox charts include the collection of strategies that help makes sense of text and are used regularly to support readers and writers. Classification charts can be used to help readers and writers understand characteristics of different charts, such as genre charts, or to develop their abilities in comparing and contrasting. Interactive charts are Linder's favorites because she believes learn the most from them. …
Publication Year: 2015
Publication Date: 2015-05-01
Language: en
Type: article
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