In this video clip you see whole-part-whole teaching in action during a lesson on nonfiction. Notice how I start by showing the third graders some wonderful nonfiction books. In doing this, I'm putting meaning first—the skills and strategies get woven in as we move forward. Together, we discuss the attributes of nonfiction through the context of books they love and themes that connect to their lives. Notice, too, that I assess before teaching when I question, What do you do when you read nonfiction to be sure you understand?

As teachers, we always need to be asking ourselves, Is what I'm doing compelling? How is what I'm doing helping kids become more effective, independent, and joyful as readers, writers, thinkers, and problem solvers?

Back to Video Resources | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter