Today's students face such a barrage of competing information in so many different forms and media that it's almost impossible to know what to trust and where to turn anymore. It's up to teachers to help students determine not only what should be read, but also how it should be read.
Illuminating Texts by Jim Burke, a member of the San Mateo Union High School District Teachers Association, explores the idea of "textual intelligence" and offers both practical and theoretical information on teaching and reading. It explains how to incorporate the newest ideas and techniques into actual classroom practice.
The Burlingame High School English teacher also presents an important argument on teaching what students will need to know and be able to do in the future. Chapters cover Reading the Internet; Reading Textbooks; Reading Literature; and Reading Images. A related Web site [www.englishcompanion.com/illuminating] provides additional resources and updates.
The 210-page book costs $22. For more information, contact Heinemann Press, 361 Hanover St., Portsmouth, NH 03801-3912; call (603) 431-7894; or visit the Web site [www.heinemann.com].
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