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Rowman & Littlefield Education Publishing Quality Resources for Teachers, Administrators, and Higher Education Professionals

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Reading Critically and Writing Meaningfully to Get to the Core

by Lesley Roessing Foreword by Barry Lane, author of After "The End" and Revisers' Toolbox

The Common Core State Standards encourages teachers to introduce more nonfiction reading and informative writing; therefore, there needs to be a bridge between the two “worlds”—that of the familiar and the less familiar, fiction and nonfiction, and narrative and informative, especially as student reading comprehension and writing ability appear to be declining. Memoir, essentially narrative nonfiction, provides that perfect bridge between the two types of writing and can be a “way in” to literacy for adolescents. Being one of the most popular and accessible literary genres, memoir can afford literary access to our reluctant readers and writers, motivating them to read more critically and write more meaningfully about what matters most to them, while connecting their lives to those of others through reading and writing. Memoir compels writers to reflect on their pasts and develop understandings of the influences on identity. Serving as inquiry-based writing, memoir allows students to read and write what their own background knowledge renders them proficient, growing their skills in all areas of literacy. Memoir writing helps to bridge the gap between reading and writing, between adolescents and children and adults of all cultures. Teaching memoir reading and writing meets the majority of Common Core State Standards in reading, writing, speaking and listening, as well as language standards. SPECIAL FEATURES: • examples of multiple mentor texts in each chapter • teacher examples with think-alouds • a variety of student samples from diverse learners • activities to engage all learners • an appendix of teacher resources and mentor texts in diverse genres, including music • a reference list of over 150 full-length memoirs for whole-class, book club, or independent reading • a list of writing resources for students and teachers • 12 full-size reproducibles for teacher and student use • a variety of reading, writing, speaking, and listening strategies and activities • across-disciplines applications and adaptations for diverse learners • Common Core State Standard connections in each chapter

“Sometimes one key opens many doors. This is the case with Lesley Roessing’s new book, Bridging the Gap. In this fascinating, highly-readable text, Roessing shows us how to use memoir to build students’ writing skills and confidence, all the while dramatically sparking motivation. After all, what do most of us love writing about? And what do we know best? Ourselves. This is not a book of simple remember-it-and-write-it activities. On the contrary. Bridging the Gap reveals the infinite complexity of memoir, showing how it forms the perfect bridge between genres, drawing on the best of creative and narrative writing while launching students into the informational world as they research their own pasts. Students simultaneously learn to read like writers, exploring a vast array of memoirs in multiple forms. Rarely does any educational text help us cross so many bridges, taking down artificial distinctions and linking fiction to nonfiction, reading to writing, creative to informational. Rarely are we invited to explore multiple cultures and perspectives while helping students create writing that is not just comprehensible but also moving. And rarely do we see in such exquisite detail how experiencing one genre can offer foundational skills in narrative, informational writing, and argument. As Roessing herself puts it, “Nothing is more powerful than hearing a person’s own voice.” Indeed. This is a book to treasure.” - Vicki Spandel, Author, The 9 Rights of Every Writer and Creating Writers

“Beautifully-written and captivating start to finish, Bridging the Gap will help all teachers engage their students in the deeply satisfying, intellectually invigorating work of memoir reading and writing. Author and educator Lesley Roessing demonstrates how to build on students’ knowledge and strengths as they deconstruct and reconstruct mentor texts across genres preparing themselves to become more proficient readers and writers of text of all types. Roessing draws on her own wide-ranging classroom experience to tie each suggested book and lesson to reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language standards—giving teachers pivotal practical information that informs as it inspires.” - Lois Bridges, Ph.D. “This is an invaluable book for educators of all levels. The book walks the teacher through every step of the memoir reading and writing process. The instructions are clear and are easy to follow. Not only are the individual chapters excellent, but all include examples that a novice teacher could use in the classroom, and an extensive list of helpful resources that would assist any class of readers-writers in their endeavors. Bridging The Gap is a "must read" for teachers of upper elementary through high school. I highly recommend it!” - Carol Raymond, retired teacher, grades 4-8

Lesley Roessing was a high school and middle level teacher for over 20 years before becoming Director of the Coastal Savannah Writing Project and Lecturer in the College of Education of Armstrong State University, Savannah, Georgia. She has written three other books for educators and students: The Write to Read: Response Journals That Increase Comprehension; No More “Us” and “Them”: Classroom Lessons & Activities to Promote Peer Respect; and Comma Quest: The Rules They Followed—The Sentences They Saved.

August&2014&•&164&pages&•8.5x11&Hardback(97861647586109162—$75.00&&&Paper(97861647586109269—$37.95&&&eBook&97861647586109366—$36.99&

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