Text-Dependent Questions, Grades 6-12: Pathways to Close and Critical Reading

Fisher & Frey's answer to close and critical reading

Learn the best ways to use text-dependent questions as scaffolds during close reading and the big understandings they yield. But that's just for starters. Fisher and Frey also include illustrative video, texts and questions, cross-curricular examples, and an online facilitator's guide--making the two volumes of TDQ a potent professional development tool across all of K-12. The genius of TDQ is the way Fisher and Frey break down the process into four cognitive pathways:

• What does the text say?
• How does the text work?
• What does the text mean?
• What does the text inspire you to do?

Douglas Fisher, Ph.D., is Professor of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High & Middle College. He is the recipient of an IRA Celebrate Literacy Award, NCTE's Farmer Award for Excellence in Writing, as well as a Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teacher Education. Doug can be reached at dfisher@mail.sdsu.edu.

Marisol Thayre is a teacher and author with experience teaching a large scope of students from various backgrounds, from the middle and high school to university levels. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English at the University of California at Santa Barbara and holds Master of Arts degree in English and Composition from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Marisol shares her knowledge with other teachers across the country as a presenter on Gradual Release of Responsibility, differentiated instruction, assessment, close reading and text-dependent questions, text complexity, and collaborative grouping. Marisol currently teaches Upper Division English at Health Sciences High and Middle College, a charter school in San Diego.

Heather Anderson has a wide range of experience teaching at both the elementary and high school levels. She earned her M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from San Diego State University, is BCLAD certified, has extensive experience in staff development, and spent part of her career as an elementary math specialist. Heather has shared her passion for education both nationally and internationally while presenting at conferences and consulting at individual school sites emphasizing the use of Gradual Release of Responsibility, differentiated instruction, close reading and collaborative grouping. Heather currently teaches English and higher level Spanish at Health Sciences High and Middle College, a charter school in San Diego.