Meet the Author Chapter One: Embracing the Language of the Standards and Creating a Curriculum General Information About the Common Core State Standards Key Shifts for English Language Arts and Literacy Key Features of the Standards Common Concerns of the Standards Reasons I Have Embraced the Standards An Overview of the Reading Standards for Literature My Curriculum Crates A Glimpse at My Notes Explaining My Methodology I Can Statements It Takes a Village Looking Beyond Your Own Grade Level Hard Work Pays Off Units of Study: Depth not Coverage Content Area Reading Resources for Teachers Common Core Resources Choice Boards Closing Thoughts ¿ Chapter Two: Questioning, Inferring, and Author¿s Purpose: A Likely Trio for Comprehension I Can Statements Another Look at My Notes Questioning and Inferring ¿ Intertwining the Two Starting from the Beginning Quality Questioning Breaking down the Verbiage Generic Organizers for Responding to Reading Descriptions with Evidence Coding Questions Flip-It Asking Questions Mentor Texts for Questioning Three Ways to Ask Questions Going Deeper Within the Study What Is A Prediction? Mentor Texts for Predicting Making Predictions from the Blurb What is an Inference? Text-based Inferences Layering the Instruction Thinking Stems for Inferring Inferring with Poetry, Pictures, and Wordless Books Poem Examples and Inference Questions Questions to Help Make Inferences Inference Answer Additional Resources for Poetry Mentor Texts for Poetry The Power of Pictures Inferring with Wordless Picture Books Inferring vs. Predicting Predicting and Inferring Bookmarks A Closer Look at Author¿s Purpose Keeping a Running Record Closing Thoughts Chapter Three: Guiding Students to Write Sensational Summaries and Recognize Themes I Can Statements Another Look at My Notes The Importance of Summarizing Why Use Summarizing in the Classroom? What Makes a Good Summary? Summarizing Versus Retelling Why Use Retelling in the Classroom? How do we Use Retelling in the Classroom? Determining Importance Thinking within the Text: The Backpack Analogy Summarizing to Evaluate Comprehension Looking Closer at Themes Using Themes to Tie in Writing Instruction Additional Ways to Teach Themes Using Quotes to Tie in Themes and Messages Thematic Conflict Some Sample Thematic T-Charts Excellent Resources for Incorporating a Genre Study Keeping on Track Choice Board Closing Thoughts Chapter Four: Reading with Close Comprehension Through Character Analysis and Story Elements I Can Statements Another Look at My Notes Character Analysis A Chance Meeting Why a Unit of Study on Characters? Mentor Texts and Author Choices Possible Mini-Lessons for Character Analysis Cause and Effect Signal Words Mentor Texts for Teaching Cause and Effect Organizers for Documenting Cause and Effect Relationships The Domino Effect Choice Board Closing Thoughts Chapter Five: Reading Closely to Recognize the Importance of Craft and Vocabulary Development I Can Statements Another Look at My Notes The Craft of Writing Reading like a Writer Teaching Students to Notice Craft of Language Four Categories of Craft Activities and Mentor Texts for Teaching Word Craft Vivid Verbs Strong Verbs Mentor Texts for Teaching Strong Verbs Similes All About Similes Idioms Hyperbole Activities and Mentor Texts for Teaching Audible Craft Tying in Vivid Vocabulary Graphic Organizers to Aid Vocabulary Study Monitoring the Mood and Tone Passage Samples Mood Task Cards Identifying the Author¿s Tone or Mood Connecting with Illustrations Illustration Task Cards Choice Board Closing Thoughts Chapter Six: Recognizing the Structural Elements of Prose, Poetry, and Drama I Can Statements Another Look at My Notes Comparing Prose, Poetry, and Drama A Chart to Keep Focused Keeping Track of Reading Selections Taking a Genre Walk Teaching Students to be Pros at Prose Poetry Rhythm Digging Drama Point of View Thought Provoking Activities for Point of View Choice Board Closing Thoughts Appendix.