Three seasoned teachers share ways to teach early learners to read and write informational texts. Their step-by-step mini-lessons demonstrate how to help children distinguish between fiction and nonfi ction, build background knowledge and vocabulary, and become familiar with captions, diagrams, maps, and more. Also included are strategies for teaching about main idea, compare and contrast, and other key skills.
Brigid Kulhowvick teaches grades 1-2 multi-age at Rick Marcotte Central School in South Burlington, Vermont. Over the past 26 years, she has also taught first grade, second grade, grades 2-3 multi-age, and Chapter 1 Reading. She holds a Master's degree in Reading from St. Michael's College.
Diane Farnham is a second grade teacher at Rick Marcotte Central School in South Burlington, Vermont. She has taught for 15 years in a variety of K-2 configurations including K-1, 1-2, K, and 2. She is a coauthor of Quick Tips: Morning Messages (Scholastic, 2003).
Paula Jensvold has been a grades 1-2 multi-age classroom teacher at Rick Marcotte Central School, in South Burlington, Vermont, for the past five years. She is completing her Master's degree through the Vermont Mathematics Initiative Master's Program at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont.