We argue in this paper that the experience of reading is an intricate and dynamic weaving of connections much like the tentative construction of a spider's web. We also use the metaphor of the web to examine a professional learning experience for Australian secondary school English teachers who over the course of a year, and by working in…

Every few years in the United States, history teachers go through what some believe is an embarrassing national ritual. A representative group of students sit down to take a standardized U.S. history test, and the results show varied success. Sizable percentages of students score at or below a "basic" understanding of the country's history.…

The study of literature has many important benefits for students, but research shows that students often have difficulty interpreting literary texts, are unable to read critically, and are challenged to write interpretations that go beyond basic plot summary. This article provides a theoretical interpretation of the processes by which students…

This study examined the cognitive levels of questions used by Iranian EFL teachers in advanced reading comprehension tests. Twenty teachers participated in this study and generated 215 questions which were then categorized according to Bloom's taxonomy. This taxonomy consists of six major categories which starts from the simplest behavior to the…

Teaching active comprehension helps students learn to ask their own questions and guide their own thinking. (MKM)

Describes the four steps of critical reading adapted to the model of reading proposed by W. S. Gray: (1) the perception of the connotative power of words, (2) the comprehension of persuasive language, (3) the reaction of judgment, and (4) the integration of monitoring devices. (FL)

The author recommends nonrestrictive questioning as one technique of provoking thought. (Author/JB)

Ways of using literature to train students in making critical inferences are discussed. (JH)

Defines the term "higher cognitive questioning" and shows teachers how to use this technique to build students' critical reading skills. (RL)

Examines materials in the ERIC system offering teaching ideas and activities designed to promote critical and creative thinking and reading. Discusses the role of teacher questioning techniques and writing to structure thoughts. (HTH)

Because it provides students with a strategy for the transfer of attributes from a familiar to an unfamiliar topic, the use of analogies can improve memory, increase specific knowledge, and encourage more critical evaluation of information. Analogies have been used to help students understand health and science materials, improve their vocabulary,…

Marginal and other intratext notations (gloss) can be used as an instructional technique to direct readers' active attention to (1) places in text where the application of specific skills would be appropriate (either for teaching or for encouraging the application of specific skills), (2) instances where a particular strategy could be useful for…

This paper develops a comprehensive and coordinated strategy for teaching critical reading and rational decision-making skills to college students. Five skills are identified as essential for developing sound reasoning processes: (1) developing an objective viewpoint, (2) identifying and clarifying an evaluative statement--the difference between…

The goal of this project was to develop a sequential program for the development of critical thinking skills that could be extended to all the elementary schools in the school district. The major objectives were: (1) to enhance teachers' ability to think critically, practice in their classrooms teaching strategies to develop pupils' thinking, and…