Close Reading and Writing from Sources

by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey

Learn new ways to help middle and high school students develop the habits necessary to read closely, take good notes, then analyze what they have read from multiple sources and synthesize information into effective discussion and, ultimately, solid writing.
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Genres: Professional Development, Education, Writing, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Douglas Fisher, Ph.D., is an educator and Professor of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High & Middle College.

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Reviews

[Heather Sobek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear, easy to read, some great tips for teaching

[Lysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful suggestions and applicable, but moreso for secondary education and very contextualised to the USA. Fair, but I wish I knew this before purchasing.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even remember who recommended this book, but it was a great way to see where close reading goes in middle and high school. I figure that knowing where they're going is as important as knowing where they've been. I have learned many great techniques from the teachers' video clips in this book; I downloaded it in ibooks so I could watch as I read. I have made a road map of the various techniques of close reading I want to use with my students, and so with my students we will be working on annotating and providing evidence from the text in the content area of science and math along with reading. I will work on forming questions that are not surface level or opinion questions, but questions that draw upon the text and provide students the challenge to work together to provide deep thinking. The writing portion is pretty advanced, but it could definitely be modeled and shared during mini lessons.

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fisher and Frey continue to do great work with close reading and complex text. This book has just 5 chapters, each full of ideas, lessons, graphic organizers and assessments. One of the areas secondary teachers struggle with is facilitating meaningful discussions. This book provides examples of how to lay the foundation for discussion, scaffold instruction to get students there, and most importantly integrate close reading, classroom discussion and writing. I plan to use this book this fall in a class for teachers on close reading. The one thing that bugged me about this book is the poor editing. Fisher and Frey love the word that,( you know what I mean, "that the students…." "that they, that she, that he, that we….") and the editors apparently choose to ignore, or are equally in love with, the word.

[Lindsey Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read many a Fisher and Frey book, but this one is my favorite! I think it hit at a time when I am seeing the specific areas addressed as needs in our schools, and Fisher and Frey provide valuable, achievable means for addressing these issues. I love their practicality while remaining firmly planted in research. I'm looking forward to infusing their ideas into professional development for teachers in the coming school year! Highly recommended for secondary teachers across the disciplines.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sure I was not going to like this book after the first chapter, but I was wrong. The book is full of great ideas to help students find and use evidence effectively. I may just steal some of their ideas for teaching about plagiarism (no pun intended) and summarizing. I think I will put this one on the shelf next to my desk at school for easy reference.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a helpful, quick read that both validated current work I am doing, but also added to my toolbox. The final chapter in which Fisher and Frey list some revision strategies to use with students in a writing workshop is a highlight. I recommend this book--clear, concise, and doable as part of a classroom set of protocols for reading and writing. >^..^<

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for MS and HS teachers looking to implement close reading. Very practical.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information for all reading/English teachers.