Reading Keys

Reading Keys

2^nd edition, 2007, available February 2006

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
222 Berkeley Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116-3764

Reading Keys is the introductory text in Laraine Flemming's three-part series. The first book in the series, it offers an introduction to all the basic skills covered in more depth and with greater sophistication in the two later books, Reading for Results and Reading for Thinking. Reading Keys offers clear, detailed explanations of everything from using context clues and interpreting transitional signals to recognizing organizational patterns in multi-paragraph readings and evaluating a writer's bias in both informative and persuasive prose. The explanations are bite-size nuggets of information that never overwhelm the student. To ensure both comprehension and retention, explanations are itemized and summarized in mini-reviews sprinkled throughout the text and introduced by key-shaped icons.

As always, Flemming has selected high-interest readings designed to whet the appetite of even the most reluctant readers; the book includes readings on topics such as the growing threat of tsunamis, the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero, the heroism of actor Christopher Reed, and color-coded warnings about terrorist threats. Readings like these will hold students' interest, but perhaps just as importantly, they will contribute to their cultural literacy about historical and current events. Like the other texts, Reading Keys comes with Getting Focused, a CD written by the author and designed and programmed by Ulrich Flemming. A family affair, the CD features sprightly content and a pedagogically sound sequence along with a visually appealing design and ease of navigation.

Chapter 1:	Words and Meanings
	Strategy 1: Using Context Clues Strategy 2: Breaking Words into Parts Digging Deeper: Primer Lesson Vocabulary Check-Out Rounding Up the Keys	Test 1: Reviewing the Key Points Test 2: Using Word Parts and Context Clues Test 3: Using Word Parts and Context Clues Test 4: Using Word Parts and Context Clues
Chapter 2:	Making Sentence Connections
	General Statement and Specific Example Cause and Effect Agreement... Modification Contrast Comparison Time Order	Digging Deeper: Moral Courage in Practice Vocabulary Check-Out Rounding Up the Keys Test 1: Reviewing the Key Points Test 2: Sentence Connections Test 3: Sentence Connections
Chapter 3:	From Topics to Main Ideas
	What's the Topic What's the Main Idea Digging Deeper: On Being Latino, Then and Now Vocabulary Check-Out Rounding Up the Keys	Test 1: Reviewing the Key Points Test 2: Identifying Topics Test 3: Identifying Topics and Main Ideas Test 4: Identifying Topics and Main Ideas Test 5: Identifying Topics and Main Ideas Test 6: Discovering Main Ideas
Chapter 4:	Recognizing Topic Sentences
	Topic Sentences at the Beginning Topic Sentences Closer to the Middle Topic Sentences at the End Get Into the Habit of Paraphrasing Digging Deeper: Family Ties Vocabulary Check-Out	Rounding Up the Keys Test 1: Reviewing the Key Points Test 2: Recognizing Topic Sentences Test 3: Recognizing Topic Sentences Test 4: Recognizing and Paraphrasing Topic Sentences
Chapter 5:	Drawing Inferences About Implied Main Ideas
	Inferring Main Ideas Effective and Ineffective Inferences Allusions and Inferences Digging Deeper: The Future of Zero Tolerance Vocabulary Check-Out Rounding Up the Keys	Test 1: Reviewing the Key Points Test 2: Identifying the Implied Main Idea Test 3: Identifying the Implied Main Idea Test 4: Identifying the Implied Main Idea Test 5: Inferring the Main Idea
Chapter 6:	Working Together: Topic Sentences and Supporting Details
	The Function of Supporting Details Major and Minor Details Evaluating Minor Details Clues to Major Details in Topic Sentences Digging Deeper: Killer Waves Vocabulary Check-Out	Rounding Up the Keys Test 1: Reviewing the Key Points Test 2: Recognizing Supporting Details Test 3: Recognizing Major and Minor Details Test 4: Recognizing Major and Minor Details
Chapter 7:	Transitions and Paragraphs
	Transitional Words and Topic Sentences Transitional Sentences and Topic Sentences Topic Sentences, Transitions, and Major Details Transitions Linking Paragraphs Digging Deeper: When Shopping Becomes Addictive Vocabulary Check-Out	Rounding Up the Keys Test 1: Reviewing the Key Points Test 2: Types of Transitions Test 3: Topic Sentences and Transitions Test 4: Recognizing Transitions and Topic Sentences Test 5: Transitions and Major Details
Chapter 8:	Recognizing Patterns of Organization
	Time Order Definition Cause and Effect Comparison and Contrast Digging Deeper: The Origins of Cinco de Mayo Vocabulary Check-Out	Rounding Up the Keys Test 1: Reviewing the Key Points Test 2: Patterns and Topic Sentences Test 3: Recognizing Patterns of Organization Test 4: Recognizing Patterns of Organization Test 5: Recognizing Patterns of Organization
Chapter 9:	Mixing and Matching Patterns
	Pure Versus Mixed Patterns Combining Patterns in Longer Readings Common Combinations The Importance of Combinations Digging Deeper: The Kursk's Tragic End Vocabulary Check-Out	Rounding Up the Keys Test 1: Reviewing the Key Points Test 2: Recognizing Patterns in Paragraphs Test 3: Recognizing Patterns in Paragraphs Test 4: Recognizing Mixed Patterns in Longer Readings
Chapter 10:	Drawing Inferences About Purpose, Tone, and Bias
	Informative Versus Persuasive Writing Drawing Inferences About Purpose When Bias Goes Overboard Digging Deeper: Archbishop Oscar Romero Vocabulary Check-Out Rounding Up the Keys	Test 1: Reviewing the Key Points Test 2: Fact and Opinion Test 3: Fact and Opinion, or Both Test 4: Recognizing Tone and Purpose Test 5: Evaluating Bias
Combining Your Skills

	Reading 1: The Seven-Day Antiprocrastination Plan
	Reading 2: Nonjudgmental and Critical Listening
	Reading 3: Good Grief
	Reading 4: Online Therapy Clicks
	Reading 5: Watching Out for Potholes on the Information Highway
	Reading 6: Checking the Stats
	Reading 7: What Makes a Hero?
	Reading 8: Dying for the Truth
	Reading 9: In from the Cold
	Reading 10: Taylor's Miracle

Last update of this page: November 8, 2005

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Reading Keys

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