Teaching Integrated Reading Strategies in the Middle School Library Media Center

Book excerpt: Drawing on the success of the popular elementary level book, Teaching Reading Strategies in the School Library (Walker and Shaw, Libraries Unlimited, 2004), this title will provide library media specialists with a resource to help integrate research-based reading strategies into the middle school library curriculum as part of the library lesson. The strategies discussed are those commonly used by teachers in the classroom and are easily adapted to use in the library media center, allowing library teachers to support school-wide reading initiatives through instruction while sharing appreciation of literature. Reading strategies are incorporated in a chapter format, explaining the strategy and benefits of integration, as well as offering resources, a review of the relevant research, methods, and a clear step-by-step approach to instruction. Chapters share general knowledge about reading instruction, and illustrate how media specialists can incorporate specific examples, including reproducible items and graphic organizers. The overall outline of the book parallels the usual reading instructional pattern of strategies to use before, during, and after reading. Grades 6-8