Full Description
Empower your students to unlock the hidden power of fiction
Fiction has the unique power to unlock a profound way of knowing the world, yet many learners struggle to understand and connect with literature on a deeper level. Building on the game-changing strategies from their bestselling Diving Deep Into Nonfiction, renowned educators Jeffrey D. Wilhelm and Michael W. Smith introduce a revolutionary framework that demystifies fiction for adolescent readers. This book empowers teachers to show students how to recognize the Rules of Notice—the conventions that signal what's important in a text—and analyze key literary elements like genre, character, point of view, symbolism, and theme. The essential mental models in the book will guide students as they read and write fictional texts. When students learn to pay attention to these signals, they begin to unlock the rich, complex worlds that fiction offers.
This practical guide provides everything you need to help students become more competent and confident readers of fiction. Inside, you'll find:
A clear introduction to the four Rules of Notice that accomplished readers use intuitively: direct statements, calls to attention, ruptures, and reader's response
Classroom-tested lessons and engaging short excerpts that model how to apply these rules to any fictional text
Sample think-alouds and ready-to-use materials that guide students to connect with what they notice and make their own meaning
Strategies for interpreting essential literary elements, including genre, character, point of view, symbols, and thematic conversations
With this book, you'll gain the tools to teach your students how to read fiction with intention and insight, giving them the confidence to navigate complex texts and discover the connections between literature and their own lives.
Contents
Chapter 1: An Introduction to Our Approach: Inquiring into the Reading Process and How Texts Work
Chapter 2: Introducing the Rules of Notice: Must-Make Moves of Reading Competence
Chapter 3: Noticing and Interpreting Genres: How Texts are Structured for Meaning and Effect
Chapter 4: Noticing and Interpreting Key Details About Characters: From Life to Literature and Back to Life
Chapter 5: Noticing and Interpreting Key Details About Point of View: Positions and Positioning
Chapter 6: Noticing and Interpreting Symbols and Motifs: The Text is a Profusion of Signs!
Chapter 7: Noticing and Interpreting Thematic Conversations: But What Does It Mean?
Chapter 8: Some Final Thoughts on the Current State of Reading Education
