Writing Awesome Answers to Comprehension Questions (Even the Hard Ones)

by Nancy Boyles

Overview

Help students appreciate texts and write about them with conviction.

Responding to a comprehension question is a surprisingly complex task. It draws on multiple skills: students must be able to read and analyze a text passage; consider what aspect of the text the question addresses; and then quickly and concisely write about their ideas, citing evidence to support them. Hence the prominence of constructed-response questions in standardized testing.

In this refreshingly clear and upbeat guide, literacy consultant Nancy Boyles gives a step-by-step demonstration of how to help students achieve success with this task—and in the process of unpacking the steps involved, demonstrates how the instruction can inspire teachers’ creativity as well as deepen students’ literacy skills.

Filled with ready-to-use scaffolds for every stage of instruction—sets of sample questions, anchor charts, cue cards, answer frames—this is a one-stop resource for teaching students how to organize their thoughts about what they’ve read, and then set them down in writing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781324015918
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	05/04/2021
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	127,576
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Nancy Boyles is Professor Emerita of Reading from Southern Connecticut State University, an independent literacy consultant, and an author of multiple books for literacy educators. As a consultant, Nancy works with districts and educational agencies to provide workshops, model lessons in classrooms, and assist with curriculum development.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Focusing Our Writing Lens on Comprehension xi

Part 1 Writing Awesome Answers, Unpacked

Chapter 1 Constructed Response in Action: A Virtual Classroom Visit 1

Chapter 2 The Road to Awesome Answers: Teaching (Not Just Testing) Comprehension 9

Chapter 3 Good Questions: 41 Ways into a Text, Indexed to Concepts and Teaching Tools 18

A Guide to the Questions, Concepts, and Teaching Tools In This Book 26

Part II Hands-on Support for Reading and Understanding

Chapter 4 Minilessons for Analytical Reading 37

Chapter 5 Tools for Analytical Reading 93

Part III Hands-on Support for Responding and Writing

Chapter 6 Cue Cards for Oral Rehearsal 147

Chapter 7 Sample Constructed Responses 175

Chapter 8 Answer Frames for Constructed Response 228

Appendix Study Guide with Suggested Resources: Teaching Practices That Lead to Awesome Answers 305

Bibliographies

Bibliography of Professional Resources 313

Bibliography of Reading Selections for Sample Responses 315

Index of Instructional Resources 319

Editorial Reviews

"Nancy Boyles' book is appropriately titled: it's an awesome guide to teaching students how to read closely and construct an answer to every type of comprehension question. The skills students develop with Boyles' methods will serve them well on standardized tests and beyond, as they will read and write more carefully and think more clearly. A blessing for busy teachers, Boyles' book offers detailed lesson plans and abundant sample questions on prose and poetry selections. "

Geraldine Woods

"The wait is over. Writing Awesome Answers to Comprehension Questions is absolutely brilliant. Nancy Boyles has bestowed a reading toolbox upon teachers. Teachers will discover numerous mini-lessons, instructional strategies, texts aligned to questions, anchor charts, rubrics, checklists...in short, everything needed to get students writing about reading. "

Christina O'Brien

"At construction sites, they put windows in the walls so you can see inside the building site. Nancy Boyles gives you such a window into how students can build meaningful 'constructed' responses. More importantly, she delivers thoughtful, practical tools teachers can use to help students read carefully and respond accurately. These tools include anchor charts, cue cards, and ways to have students engage with various media types. As usual, a can't-miss text. "

Dr. Michael J. Rafferty

"Nancy Boyles' newest book gives teachers a proven formula to follow for teaching constructed response to their students. This book takes the process and breaks it down into clear, easy-to-follow steps. It's teacher-friendly, easy to read, and loaded with instructional strategies and resources for immediate use, including Anchor Charts, Checklists, and Answer Frames. "

Michelle Dupuis

"Yes!!! A resource for teachers that actually defines the standards, builds knowledge, and provides scaffolds and supports for both teachers and students! This easy-to-read book contains over a hundred ready-to-use materials for immediate implementation. Explanations and models (with annotations) tied to authentic literature are provided. It's the perfect addition to any CCSS-aligned curriculum or program. Teaching constructed response has never been easier! Thank you, Nancy!"

Dena Mortensen