Customer Reviews

To Understand: New Horizons in Reading Comprehension

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... is beautifully and inspirationally detailed in Ellin Keene's new book, "To Understand".

Building effectively on the base of her original work, Mosaic of Thought, Second Edition: The Power of Comprehension Strategy Instruction, Keene spells out the next steps in teaching those comprehension strategies by getting them to always think more deeply, more purposefully, more richly. More so than just a mindless rattling off of the comprehension strategies, To Understand challenges you to see how those strategies lead to a deeper understanding of how what you've read impacts you.

So often, we burn through a series of books with kids, inspiring them to read quantity, without much forethought of how this literature must be effecting them. We believe that reading a million pages, or a thousand book, and getting a principal to kiss a goat, is reading success. Keene challenges us to go beyond that, to seek ways that we must inspire our children not only to read books, but to talk about how that reading impacts our minds and hearts. Children have a remarkable capacity to think deeply and purposefully, if given the chance, if taught how to do it, and if supported in the classroom.

Keene offers repeatedly through her book a simple mantra: teach a few concepts, over a period of time, with great intensity, and across a variety of texts and genres. Instead of trying to tackle any state's 134 page document of what's "essential" in literacy learning, she had four pages (four!) of what research says "is essential", and sticking to those, in the face of increasing demands of teachers from NCLB, is the true way to go. Rather boldly, Ellin even encourages us to practice civil disobedience when it comes to making educational decisions for your classroom.

Ellin's writing style is personal and affecting throughout the book. She addresses us personally through many of the chapters, sharing bits and pieces of her life, as she encourages us to always do with our students. Rather magically, she begins each chapter of her book with a focus on a "master", an artist or a writer who exemplifies the traits that chapter is examining. I found these vignettes to be powerful. And as she shares the pain of losing her mother, sending her daughter off to college, and being transformed herself by looking at wonderful pieces of art, the real Ellin comes through.

What this book isn't is a guide for teaching comprehension strategies on day one. While she provides countless helpful charts detailing the information she's espousing, you won't find what to do the first day, what to do the second day, et. al. Ellin trusts her teachers too much for that, always suggesting that we look at our own classes, assess their needs, and teach from there. That trust scares many people, but I find it exhilarating.

In fact, this entire book is best described as exhilarating. When I first picked up "Mosaic of Thought" I had no idea it would transform my teaching and reading instruction so dramatically. Now, as I read her new book, I see Ellin, standing just off in the horizon, just a few paces, beckoning us to move forward ourselves, beckoning us to see "what's next". Buy this book, and savor her vision, her ideas, and transform your teaching again!

"Inspirational" is not a word I would normally apply to a book about reading comprehension, but this book is like no other. In her new book, To Understand, Ellin Keene explores what's essential in literacy instruction, but her words could easily be applied to the entire teaching and learning process. She charges teachers with developing "Renaissance kids" who pursue a wide range of interests, dig deeply into books, and who are willing to pursue new ideas through their own discovery and research. . . kids who truly experience the joy of reading to learn rather than just learning to read. Keene asks us to leave behind the scripted, cookie-cutter approaches to teaching reading and focus on what's important, giving students numerous opportunities to apply a wide variety of reading strategies. This book is not one to read quickly in order to prepare for tomorrow's lesson; instead, it's a book to savor slowly, a chapter at a time.

This book is a detailed account of Ellin Keane's work in the area of reading comprehension. It included a lot of interesting charts to represent the information but did not include a lot of student work samples, graphic organizers, nor photos. Her "New Horizons" point of view and the idea of a "literacy studio" is quite different, especially if your county has curriculum mandates which dictate certain skills and strategies be taught. What does it mean to comprehend? This book leads us to many conclusions in understanding how to undertand.

Ellin Keene's book "To Understand" is a powerful and thought provoking book. It discusses issues of reading comprehension instruction and is so vital. I was fortunate to meet with Ellin and she was just as powerful in person.

A good read for educators. Especially to help those students who tell you, they just don't understand.

The book To Understand was ordered,and charged to my credit card but never arrived. In addition, I recently filled out several email forms stating this. I received back one email that said, "Oh, you used the wrong form. Please try again!"

In the past I have not had a problem but now I am hesitant to order again.