Puzzle Them First!

Motivating Adolescent Readers With Question-Finding

A. Vincent Ciardiello

“One of the finest monographs on questioning and motivation that I have read.”
— Dr. Richard T. Vacca, Professor Emeritus, College of Education, Kent State University; Past President of the International Reading Association

Vincent Ciardiello suggests that to truly learn, students should be puzzled about new knowledge. Question-finding, the unique strategy described in this book, fosters this learning by leading adolescent students to probe the multiple meanings of text and ask challenging, open-ended questions. Focus units illustrate how you can use question-finding across the curriculum.

In each chapter, the author encourages you to “pause and ponder” and “ponder and practice” to reinforce and apply the question-finding concepts.

Other practical tools include

An annotated list of materials and resources that stimulate question-finding

A sample lesson plan that demonstrates the strategy

A glossary of important concepts and specialized terms that help you understand the question-finding process

Use this resource to motivate and engage your students and help them become independent readers and inquirers.

An IRA Book Club selection, December 2006

© 2007 | 216 pp.
ISBN 13: 978-0-87207-581-8

Also of interest:

Developing Academic Thinking Skills in Grades 6–12

Developing Critical Awareness at the Middle Level

What Adolescents Deserve

Related ReadWriteThink.org lesson plans:

“MyTube: Changing the World With Video Public Service Announcements”