Reading Connections
PLT supports the important role that reading plays in the classroom.
Activities accompanied by literature provide students with a meaningful
way to expand their learning and imaginations, while providing educators
with tools to address current education initiatives.Reading connections
are a leading feature of this guide.
Reading Connections Include Wide Variety of Books
Relevant books are listed at the end of each PLT activity in a highlighted box entitled "Reading Connections." PLT advocates the use of a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction books including the following:
- Folktales
- Myths and Legends
- Content-based
- Poetry
- Chants and Songs
- Maps and Charts
- Culturally Diverse
- Global in Scope
The books listed at the end of each PLT activity were selected to
assist teachers in meeting reading goals and to build upon concepts
learned in the activities. Authors, titles, annotations, grade level
recommendations, and ISBN numbers are provided for each book.
The Children's Literature List, sorted by author or Children's Literature List sorted by PLT activity, includes additional books correlated to each activity, but not listed in the highlighted box at the end of each activity.
"Read-Aloud"
Several PLT activities include a "read-aloud." Research
indicates that reading aloud motivates children to want to learn to
read, assists in vocabulary and language development, and increases
content knowledge. Reading a story aloud also presents great
opportunities for classroom discussions, role plays, shared readings,
arts and crafts, and singing songs. In these read-alouds, educators are
given additional techniques for effectively expanding upon the reading
with their students. In "Trees as Habitats," for example, Good-Night Owl! is suggested as a read-aloud. Use of this book has been integrated into the activity and discussion questions have been added.
Read-alouds
include stories for teachers to read aloud or for students to read to
one another or to themselves, depending on their grade level. With these
stories and the discussion questions provided in the activities,
educators can introduce new vocabulary and concepts, expand on content
knowledge, and assess student comprehension. PLT activities that have
stories within them include "Sounds Around," "The Forest of S.T. Shrew,"
"Tale of the Sun," "Nothing Succeeds Like Succession," "Earth Manners,"
and "A Look at Lifestyles."
Educators may expand upon PLT's emphasis on reading through the following techniques:
- Students reading aloud to each other
- Students reading additional books by authors from the Reading Connections
- Older students reading to younger students
- Students writing new endings to the books or creating new stories
- Students reading outdoors
- Students selecting appropriate music to go with a reading
- Student reading the Reading Connection books to their siblings, parents, or grandparents
