Contact: Tricia Bridges, Ph.D., 601.408.0449 or tbridges@jbhm.com
Reading
The JBHM Middle Grades Reading Initiative is a compilation of research-based instructional practices considered to be the most effective for middle school literacy. The product is designed to connect reading/language arts classrooms to content area classrooms and to provide clear and consistent goals and instructional techniques in reading. Reading and content area teachers receive intensive embedded professional development and support for the implementation of the program as well as multiple classroom and professional resources. The outcome for teachers is that they become more reflective and cognizant of their own reading thinking processes as they learn to model these processes for students.
The ultimate goal is for students to become strategic readers who monitor their own understanding.
The Reading Thinking Process Strategies that are explicitly taught include:
- Making Connections
- Determining Importance
- Visualizing
- Questioning
- Summarizing
- Self-Monitoring for Understanding
- Inferring
- Synthesizing
The Vocabulary Thinking Process Tools address vocabulary instruction and include lessons on:
- Developing Vocabulary with Word Walls
- Context Clues
- Graphic Organizers
- Analogies
- Word Structure
- Use of the Dictionary
Components of the Reading Initiative Include:
- Information related to Reading as a Process, Conducting Think Alouds, and Utilizing Read Alouds
- GPS for Students - Information related to the development of methods for students to track their use of Reading Thinking Processes and Vocabulary Tools
- Classrooms in Motion – Information related to the organization and management of students and space for teaching and learning
- Plans in Motion - Effective lesson planning including sample plans
- Minds in Motion – Information about what good readers do to enhance their comprehension of the written word
- Words in Motion – Information about what good readers do to support vocabulary development
- Print in Motion – Information related to setting up and using classroom libraries and an extensive book list of adolescent literature
- Moving Beyond the Blackline Monster – Alternatives to worksheets
- Moving the Struggling Reader Forward – Specific intervention strategies for students who need more intensive instruction
- Reading Thinking Process Strategy lessons designed to explicitly teach students to utilize making connections, questioning, visualizing, inferring, summarizing, determining importance, self-monitoring, and synthesizing to improve comprehension
- Vocabulary Strategy lessons designed to explicitly teach students to utilize word walls, context clues, graphic organizers, analogies, word structure, and the dictionary to support vocabulary development
- Novel Units-Lessons based on longer text selections designed to help students integrate the comprehension and vocabulary strategies previously taught
- Appendix - Transparencies of the strategies and text used in each lesson as well as any other supporting resources needed for a specific lesson
It takes a school to grow proficient readers. Teachers and administrators working together and moving in the same direction can and will make a difference.
Sample Lessons from Reading
RTP 8th Grade Summarizing - Reading
Click here to download in a PDF format.
VTP 8th Grade Using Graphic Organizers - English
Click here to download in a PDF format.
Ghosts of Rowan Oak
Click here to download in a PDF format.
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For more information on the Ed Group's Standards-Based Instruction services,
contact your state director.
