Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matterfeatures nonfiction reading passages covering socialstudies, science, literature, mathematics, philosophy,logic, language, the arts, and combined subjects. Thesepassages are followed by comprehension questions includingstory recall, inferential questions, and writing prompts.Books are arranged thematically, with selections related toone another, to show different aspects of a topic and givestudents a broader knowledge of a subject. Topics andquestions prepare students for standardized tests andprovide valuable practice in nonfiction readingcomprehension.
The consistent format allows studentsin the same class to use different levels in the series -it's helpful for classrooms or homeschools with children ofvarying reading abilities. Students gain confidence andincrease their reading, language, and comprehension skillsas they progress through the series.
The full seriesis comprised of 14 student books and spans grades 2-11. TheEarly Reading Comprehension workbooks (Books A-D) arefor young readers, specifically grades 2-4. ReadingComprehension (Books 1-6) targets grades 3-8, andMORE Reading Comprehension (Levels 1-4) is designedfor junior high and older students.
In each lesson,the presentation of the passage consistently follows thesame 7-step format:
- About the Passage -introduces the selection to the reader and activates priorknowledge
- Reason for Reading - explains the readingskill emphasized
- The Selection - thematically organizedselections across subject matter.
- Thinking it Over -lists two to three broad questions to be answered inwriting
- Studying the Passage - asks questions about themain idea, facts, and sequence, and asks students to drawconclusions, make assumptions, and interpret.
- Using theWords - encourages students to use new vocabulary words in aparagraph
- Writing about It - has students answerquestions about the contents of the selection and offertheir interpretation or opinion
ReadingComprehension Book 3 includes 31 selections in the following7 subject areas. A sample passage title is given for eachsubject area:
- Social Studies - FirstLadies
- Science - Eclipses
- Philosophy, Logic, andLanguage - The Giving Trees
- Combined Subjects - AmeliaEarhart
- Math - Tree Rings Tell a Story
- Literature - AHouse Made From Trees
- The Arts - A Great Musician
Skills Addressed:
- Storyrecall
- Sequencing
- Identifying facts
- Drawingconclusions
- Vocabulary development
- Mainidea
- Extending thoughts in writing
- Inference
