Authors Roberta D. Mantione, a literacy specialist, and Sabine Smead, a classroom teacher, wanted to help their students become competent readers. Knowing that strategic thinking and strong comprehension occurs when students are offered multiple ways of responding to text, the authors developed an arts-integrated curriculum that would help them teach reading comprehension strategies. This book is an in-depth look at the effects of using multiple art forms as a methodology for teaching comprehension to elementary students.

Each chapter not only presents and defines the specific comprehension strategies—developing sensory images, building and activating schema, questioning, determining importance, inferring, and synthesis—but also provides information to help you re-create the lessons in your classroom. Interspersed throughout this book are student samples that offer insight into the depth of the lessons and of students’ learning. Appendixes offer an arts matrix to help you implement lessons; directions for art projects and drama techniques, blackline masters, and suggested resources.

Weaving Through Words is a valuable resource for any elementary teacher who wants to provide students with a variety of ways to express their thinking and improve their reading comprehension.