Describes the "story face," an adaptation of story mapping that provides a visual framework for understanding, identifying, and remembering elements in narrative text. Discusses several strengths of the story face strategy used with students in grades 1-5: easy to construct, easy to remember, can guide retelling, is collaboratively…

Argues that discourse knowledge (knowledge readers have of the way a text or story is organized) can be taught from the earliest grades using authentic contexts and quality children's literature as well as the children's own writing. Suggests specific books and specific strategies to foster the students' knowledge of three patterns of…

Describes an effective technique that teaches middle school students three patterns of organization extensively used by textbook authors and lecturing teachers: chronological order, cause and effect, and compare and contrast. (SR)

Designed to tap the rich collection of instructional techniques in the ERIC database, this compilation of lesson plans focuses on reading strategies for the primary grades. The 40 lesson plans in this book offer practical suggestions for the teacher on how to: (1) get started with beginning reading; (2) facilitate comprehension through vocabulary…