Lessons and Units for Closer Reading reassures teachers like me to the same degree that it instructs. It is no accident that Nancy uses words like
coherence, connections, and
synergy in her opening pages. Through her unit and lesson design, she brings that coherence to us in incremental, practical ways-ways that new and experienced teachers can easily absorb into their teaching practices. Nancy is giving us what we
want: specific lesson ideas based on a solid framework that uses children's literature, but it is actually what we
need, too. -- TANNY MCGREGOR, Education Consultant and Author of Comprehension Connections
In her new book, Lessons and Units for Closer Reading, Nancy Boyles offers teachers what they ask for and need the most-practical, useable strategies and examples in the form of actual close reading lessons-32 to be exact-along with 23 videos accessible through QR codes that show how to implement these close reading lessons and related strategies. What a treasure trove of modeling and guidance for teachers! As a former elementary educator myself, how I wish I had had this powerful resource to help me become a better teacher of reading.
-- LARRY AINSWORTH, Education Consultant and Coauthor of Common Formative Assessments 2.0
The Common Core Standards call for students to be able to read texts closely to make meaning and for students to build knowledge systematically (CCSS for ELA, p. 33, 2010). This book provides a vivid picture of instruction that supports this kind of learning. Boyles' text speaks to the teacher who has been grappling with how to develop units and strategically integrate close reading lessons, providing clarity and inspiration. This is a must-have text for educators and will remain a go-to resource in my professional library for many years to come.
-- SUNDAY CUMMINS, Ph.D., Literacy Consultant and Author of Close Reading of Informational Texts
Now you understand what close reading is, but you need the nitty-gritty. Presto, Nancy Boyles delivers eight stellar units of study. Her lessons are practical, the text-dependent questions for all those marvelous picture books save you a few weeks of arduous planning. But what I admire most of all? The gallery of student work she's gathered, with her commentary about strengths, needs, next steps. It's a rare window into another practitioner's thinking about what constitutes higher-level reading and writing work. Everybody's talking about it, but no one has done such a good job showing it until now. -- LESLIE BLAUMAN, Teacher, Education Consultant, and Author of The Common Core Companion: Booster Lessons, Grades 3-5
Everywhere you turn, headlines call for students to read with depth and rigor. But few teachers get the support they need to bring this about for 25+ students each and every school day. Nancy Boyles' new book gives them that 'how-to,' and it's remarkable. She provides seven units of study [plus] a valuable planning guide that shows them how to design their own units with a depth that motivates and engages students. Once teachers ace the planning process, the day-to-day implementation of the units becomes easier. I predict that this book will become teachers' favorite resource for unit design.
-- LAURA ROBB, Education Consultant and Author of Vocabulary Is Comprehension
