About the Author

Jill Erfourth has been an educator for 18 years in Michigan and the past 12 years as a second grade teacher. In addition, Jill delivers literacy training in districts across Michigan and has served on several literacy committees in her district. She is an annual presenter at the Michigan Reading Association conference, presents workshops at the Macomb Intermediate School District, and is an MISD New Teacher Academy trainer. Jill holds a BS and MS in educational leadership. Theresa Hasenauer is a school improvement consultant for the Macomb Intermediate School District, working with teachers and administrators throughout the county. She was an elementary teacher for 15 years and has held positions as a literacy consultant and Common Core specialist. She has a BS and MAT in elementary education and an education specialist degree in leadership from the University of Michigan. She also received her National Board Certification in literacy in 2010. Theresa has presented at local and state conferences and workshops for teachers, administrators, and parents in reading and writing instructional practices and Common Core implementation.

Reviews

Thanks to the work of these three authors and their colleagues, we have proof that students early in their reading years can read to understand; analyze text for what it says and how it says it; and evaluate text to determine how it supports meaning.-- "Dr. Elaine Weber"

The authors creatively combine the ideals of close reading with critical analysis to provide a support for the task of uncovering text structures with students. Their efforts will assist students in the understanding of the craft of expository writing, as well as assist in surfacing key ideas, details, and textual evidence.-- "Lisa R. Rivard, Ph.D."

The introduction explains the background, purpose, framework, and organization before providing a sample lesson. There are sections in each lesson for: Common Core State Standards, background knowledge, Tier 1, 2, and 3 vocabulary, and teacher guided prompts to use over a four-day period, guiding students into deeper comprehension of the topic. . . .I have mentioned this strategy to our reading coach, special education teacher, and curriculum resource teacher, and they all feel this could help students gain a deeper understanding of topics. Recommended.-- "School Library Connection"

Understanding complex informational text can be difficult for students. The lessons in this book will guide them. Strategies are provided for meaningful discussions on various text structures.-- "Learning Magazine"