Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Informational Texts in Pre-Kindergarten Through Grade-Three Classrooms

This book presents a myriad of instructional techniques and critical literacy strategies while serving as a professional resource for inservice and preservice primary-grade teachers as they include informational texts in their classrooms. In each of the nine chapters, there is a particular topic that guides the focus of the chapter. These themes include: a rationale for incorporating informational texts in the primary-grade classroom; a discussion of the unique features of informational texts; the selection of high quality informational materials for primary readers; critical literacy; prereading, during reading, and post reading strategies; the writing of informational texts; and inquiry projects for the primary classroom. This book also contains a preface; an introduction; and an afterword, in which the controversy regarding the Common Core State Standards is discussed. Unique features of each chapter are specific standards reflecting the Common Core State Standards; strategies for all students to be successful with the Standards; transcriptions of lessons from primary-grade classrooms; examples of pupils' work as they interact with informational materials; and a "Give It a Try" section, where a lesson plan or a pedagogical suggestion is presented for the reader to try out in his/her own classroom. Review As a veteran teacher, I appreciate both the relevant content and the workable, practical guide that Correia and Bukowiecki's book offers. They provide a compelling message to get your students reading with authentic, enjoyable, and purposeful texts! Informational Texts in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade-Three Classrooms encourages teachers to set themselves in their classrooms as they read, reflect, and get excited about how to help their students become more curious learners. Their thoughtful consideration of the goals of informational text as they relate to the Common Core State Standards was truly beneficial.--Susan Weitzmann, Classroom teacher and District Instructional Coach, Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District To borrow from Correia and Bukowiecki's first chapter, the book, Information Texts in Pre-Kindergarten Through Grade-Three, really does make a case for using informational text in the primary grades. It offers a clear definition for critical literacy and gives practical strategies that focus on comprehension for all phases of reading. The 'Give It a Try' sections contain easy to follow directions to help us get started. This book has information for the novice and experienced alike and is chock-full of ideas that will make children think about what they are reading!--Nancy Witherell, EdD, Professor of Reading, Bridgewater State University About the Author Elaine M. Bukowiecki, Ed.D. is a professor of Literacy Education at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, where she is Department Chairperson for the Department of Counselor Education and is the Principal Editor for The Graduate Review, a journal of graduate research and scholarship. Dr. Bukowiecki is a former elementary school classroom teacher for the Shrewsbury, Massachusetts Public Schools and a district-wide language arts coordinator for the Putnam, Connecticut Public Schools. Dr. Bukowiecki has published widely in various literacy and educational journals and has presented papers and workshops at local, state, national, and international venues. Additionally, Dr. Bukowiecki has published two books for Rowman and Littlefield. Dr. Bukowiecki is past president of the Massachusetts Reading Association and the Massachusetts Association of College and University Reading Educators. Marlene P. Correia, Ed.D. is a Literacy Coach and Mentoring Coordinator for the Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District in Lakeville, MA. Marlene has 15 years of experience in K-8 education as a classroom teacher and special educator. Dr. Correia has also taught undergraduate and graduate Education courses in Massachusett