Reading Detective Beginning

SKU
004100
ISBN
9780894557699
Grade 3-4
Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Other
Other methodologies
Religious Content
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.
Our Price
$25.99
Description
Publisher's Description of Reading Detective Beginning

These highly-effective, literature-based critical thinking activities develop the analysis, synthesis, and vocabulary skills students in Grades 3-4 need for exceptional reading comprehension. This 192-page activity book is especially effective at helping students understand challenging critical reading concepts such as making inferences, drawing conclusions, determining cause and effect, using context clues to define vocabulary, and making predictions and generalizations. 

Students read and analyze short literature passages and stories that include fiction and nonfiction genres. Then they answer multiple-choice and short-response questions, citing sentence evidence to support their answers. Concepts and skills covered include:

Literary Analysis Skills
     •  Define vocabulary using context clues
     •  Recognize figurative language
     •  Identify main idea, supporting details, and theme
     •  Recognize literary devices
     •  Identify story elements: theme, plot, setting, and characters

Category Description for Reading Detective

I waited awhile for this product! Critical Thinking Press has tackled reading comprehension and critical thinking in this popular series. Reading and thinking should go hand in hand, but sometimes those skills need to be developed a little more. These excellent books use excerpts from award-winning authors, original fiction in a variety of genres and an assortment of nonfiction articles covering a broad array of topics and subject areas. Reading skills honed in the series include: comparison/contrast; distinguishing cause and effect; distinguishing fact and opinion; drawing conclusions; finding supporting details; identifying main idea; making inferences; making generalizations; making predictions; reading for details and information; sequencing; using tables, diagrams, and illustrations; recognizing analogies; predicting outcomes. Literary analysis is included here, too, as students will: analyze character traits; identify key events in plot; identify theme; identify setting; predict resolution; identify author's purpose; recognize figurative language; recognize conflict; recognize point of view; and sequence events. While all skills are developed, particular attention is given to those requiring critical thinking, such as inference and generalization. The goal is to teach students to think as they read to increase their understanding and retention of the material. To that end, instead of just answering questions about each reading passage, students are asked to support their choice, citing specific evidence from the passage (hence the "detective" part). Pre- and post-tests are supplied to help you determine which skills and lessons to focus on. Student books are consumable worktexts. A Teacher Overview contains an introduction to the program and how to use it, as well as answers to the practice activities. The answer key contains answers to the exercises in context; all of the passages and questions are included to aid in discussion. Beginning, A1, and B1 levels are all very similar in structure and content, but adjusted to different grade levels. Reading Detective Rx features low-readability, high-interest passages and exercises for the remedial reader.

Besides the interesting, varied selections, broad range of skills covered, and development of critical thinking skills, I also appreciate that the reading level is on target for the grade level (except for Rx). Many reading comprehension books seem to go to extremes to ensure that difficulty in actual reading ability doesn't impede the student in working through the lessons by lowering the reading level of the passages - resulting in overly simplistic passages that take most of the interest (and challenge!) out of reading.

Details
More Information
Product Format:Paperback Book
Brand:Critical Thinking Company
Author:Cheryl Block
Grades:3-4
ISBN:9780894557699
Length in Inches:11
Width in Inches:8.5
Height in Inches:0.75
Weight in Pounds:1.4125
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