I Read It, but I Don't Get It

I Read It, but I Don't Get It is a practical, engaging account of how teachers can help adolescents develop new reading comprehension skills. Cris Tovani is an accomplished teacher and staff developer who writes with verve and humor about the challenges of working with students at all levels of achievement—from those who have mastered the art of "fake reading" to college-bound juniors and seniors who struggle with the different demands of content-area textbooks and novels.

Enter Cris' classroom, a place where students are continually learning new strategies for tackling difficult text. You will be taken step-by-step through practical, theory-based reading instruction that can be adapted for use in any subject area. The book features:

• anecdotes in each chapter about real kids with real universal problems. You will identify with these adolescents and will see how these problems can be solved;
• a thoughtful explanation of current theories of comprehension instruction and how they might be adapted for use with adolescents;
• a What Works section in each of the last seven chapters that offers simple ideas you can immediately employ in your classroom. The suggestions can be used in a variety of content areas and grade levels(6-12);
• teaching tips and ideas that benefit struggling readers as well as proficient and advanced readers;
• appendixes with reproducible materials that you can use in your classroom, including coding sheets, double entry diaries, and comprehension constructors.

In a time when students need increasingly sophisticated reading skills, this book will provide support for teachers who want to incorporate comprehension instruction into their daily lesson plans without sacrificing content knowledge.

Table of Contents

About the Author(s)

Cris is a native of Colorado and received her degrees from the University of San Diego and the University of Colorado. She is currently doing national consulting and teaching work and serving as a literacy coach full time at Smoky Hill High School in the
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Reviews

Arizona Reading Journal - Fall 2001
"This book is full of step-by-step approaches that can be adapted for use in any subject area." Arizona Reading Journal, Fall 2001

Journal of Adol. & Adult Literacy - September 2001
"Rarely does one encounter so many useful ideas for improving adolescents' reading comprehension in so slim a volume as I Read It, but I Don't Get It. The style of this book, more narrative than a serious text, encourages rapid reading."

Speaking of Reading - Fall 2004
"This easily read and practical book gives teaching examples and ideas for the regular classroom teacher as well as for the reading specialist." Speaking of Reading, Fall 2004

Voices from the Middle - May 2001
"You virtually watch Tovani roll up her sleeves and engage students in demanding text." Voices from the Middle, May 2001