Deeper Reading

Gallagher, Kelly. Deeper Reading. Stenhouse Publishers, 2004.
In this book, Gallagher discusses the components of deeper reading and how to use them in the classroom. One of the main things she talks about is using discussion with literature to foster a learning environment of critical thinkers. She also uses 5 points to guide students’ critical thinking, which include: What does this book mean in terms of my family; What does this book mean in terms of my peers? Why should people my age be concerned with the issues presented in this book; What does this book mean in terms of my community? How do the ideas in this book affect both my community and others; What does this book mean in terms of thinking about my country? What relevance does it play in relation to our national well-being; What does this book mean about the human condition? What can I learn about humanity from reading this text? What are the universal truths it contains? These questions connect the literature back to the student, not only on a self level but also on a world level. This requires students to analyze the reading and then apply it to their lives. The discussion these types of questions can foster is the type of discussion I want to have in my classroom to encourage my students to not only read but also understand what they are reading and do something with that knowledge. This type of book encourages best practice use through authentic tasks that connect literature to the outside world,  which puts students at the center of the learning process.

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