At Thompson, the library will emphasize higher order thinking skills in all areas of reading.  What does that mean?  It means our brains will get a good work out in an enjoyable way!  Higher order thinking means that we will think about the how's, the whys, the what ifs of a question.  We will analyze a passage that we're reading to find meaning, or the motivation of a character, or the author's purpose in writing the story a certain way.  We will examine nonfiction resources to  answer student-created, teacher-guided questions.  The process of research is introduced, taught, and built upon every year, and is highly important in helping students understand how to disseminate their ever-changing world.

In doing this, the library will provide support to students as they prepare to take the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test, from third through fifth grade. 

Grade levels targeted are 3rd through 5th, although support in higher order thinking begins the first time a kindergartner walks into the library!

The targeted TAKS reading objectives are:

Objective 3:  The student will use a variety of strategies to analyze culturally diverse written texts.

Objective 4:  The student will apply critical-thinking skills to analyze culturally diverse written texts.

TEKS that support these objectives that the library will focus on are:

English/Language Arts

7a;8c;9a;12a;12b;12c;12d;12e;12f;12g;12h;12i;12j;20a;20b;20c;20d.

Strategies:

The library will host two research units per grade level, per year, in which the librarian will oversee and contribute to units which use a variety of strategies to analyze culturally diverse written texts, and help students to apply critical-thinking skills to analyze text.

The librarian and teachers will collaborate to create challenging, stimulating units in order for the students to use critical-thinking skills to analyze text and synthesize their newly acquired knowledge in the form of graphic or visual organizers, as well as a final product.

The librarian will read aloud to classes, stopping to discuss and analyze culturally diverse texts.  The love of reading is also emphasized.