One of the most popular literary genres, memoir can provide literary and literacy access to reluctant adolescent readers and writers, and help bridge the achievement gap by motivating students to read more critically and write more meaningfully about what matters most to them. The introspective nature of memoir helps students learn about themselves and connect with their environment or community, while also meeting a variety of Common Core standards. In this way, memoirs and creative nonfiction can provide a bridge between *fiction and nonfiction reading, *narrative and informative writing, *reading and writing, and *can afford a "way in" to literacy for all adolescents. Special features of the book: *examples of multiple mentor texts in each chapter *teacher examples with think-aloud exercises *a variety of student samples from diverse learners *activities to engage all learners *an appendix of teacher resources *a reference list of over 150 full-length memoirs for grades 5-12 for whole-class, book club, or independent reading *a list of writing resources for students and teachers *12 full-size reproducible materials for teacher and student use *a variety of reading, writing, speaking, and listening strategies and activities *across-disciplines applications and adaptations for diverse learners *daily writing focus lessons in gradual-release-responsibility format *Common Core State Standard connections at the end of each chapter

Talking Texts is a guide for teachers to the steps and strategies of implementing text clubs in many forms- fiction and nonfiction book clubs, textbook clubs, article clubs, and even poetry clubs-in the classroom. All strategies presented are applicable to any discipline so that text clubs can be employed across the curriculum in any grade level.

It is imperative that teachers build community in their classrooms and across their academic teams and grades in order to make school a safe and supportive place for adolescents. Teachers must help their students acknowledge that they belong to a group together, that they are part of a "we" or "us," and that any differences-divergent talents, backgrounds, experiences, cultures, and skills-only make "us" stronger and better. No More "Us" and "Them" delineates what steps educators can take to create an atmosphere where adolescent students feel accepted, included, and valuable to themselves and to their peers. The goal of this book is to change adolescent attitudes to lead to not just acceptance and tolerance, but toward an expansion of "us" and respect for their classmates that will serve to spread an even wider net of respect. This book provides ideas for lessons and activities that can be integrated into existing curricula and that meet a variety of content area standards in language arts, social studies, science, mathematics, foreign languages, physical education, art, and music, while also proposing ideas for advisory or homeroom periods and class, team, and grade gatherings to build respect in our classrooms, our schools, and our communities.

Talking Texts is a guide for teachers to the steps and strategies of implementing text clubs in many forms- fiction and nonfiction book clubs, textbook clubs, article clubs, and even poetry clubs-in the classroom. All strategies presented are applicable to any discipline so that text clubs can be employed across the curriculum in any grade level.

One of the most popular literary genres, memoir can provide literary and literacy access to reluctant adolescent readers and writers, and help bridge the achievement gap by motivating students to read more critically and write more meaningfully about what matters most to them. The introspective nature of memoir helps students learn about themselves and connect with their environment or community, while also meeting a variety of Common Core standards. In this way, memoirs and creative nonfiction can provide a bridge between *fiction and nonfiction reading, *narrative and informative writing, *reading and writing, and *can afford a "way in" to literacy for all adolescents. Special features of the book: *examples of multiple mentor texts in each chapter *teacher examples with think-aloud exercises *a variety of student samples from diverse learners *activities to engage all learners *an appendix of teacher resources *a reference list of over 150 full-length memoirs for grades 5-12 for whole-class, book club, or independent reading *a list of writing resources for students and teachers *12 full-size reproducible materials for teacher and student use *a variety of reading, writing, speaking, and listening strategies and activities *across-disciplines applications and adaptations for diverse learners *daily writing focus lessons in gradual-release-responsibility format *Common Core State Standard connections at the end of each chapter

It is imperative that teachers build community in their classrooms and across their academic teams and grades in order to make school a safe and supportive place for adolescents. Teachers must help their students acknowledge that they belong to a group together, that they are part of a "we" or "us," and that any differences-divergent talents, backgrounds, experiences, cultures, and skills-only make "us" stronger and better. No More "Us" and "Them" delineates what steps educators can take to create an atmosphere where adolescent students feel accepted, included, and valuable to themselves and to their peers. The goal of this book is to change adolescent attitudes to lead to not just acceptance and tolerance, but toward an expansion of "us" and respect for their classmates that will serve to spread an even wider net of respect. This book provides ideas for lessons and activities that can be integrated into existing curricula and that meet a variety of content area standards in language arts, social studies, science, mathematics, foreign languages, physical education, art, and music, while also proposing ideas for advisory or homeroom periods and class, team, and grade gatherings to build respect in our classrooms, our schools, and our communities.