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The authors of History Alive! America's Past, have skillfully designed the text with exceptional sensitivity to the prior knowledge and comprehension strategies of a developing reader. The content and organization are woven together in a seamless tapestry that boosts comprehension of new ideas.
First, the chapters are organized in a straightforward, yet elegant manner. The clear and comprehensive chapter introductions and summaries will be a boon to teachers during prereading and review activities. Also this the text should leave no doubt in a student's mind as to purpose or direction of the overall chapter and each successive section. The single-column format, clear prose, and visual aids make the expository text easily comprehensible to young readers, who are more accustomed to narrative text. Moreover, the numbered sections contain conceptually rigorous paragraphs that are easy to navigate, due to the explicitly stated main ideas, clear supporting details, and use of familiar transition words.
Perhaps the strongest asset of this expository prose is the abundant supply of examples and clear explanations that help students grasp key terms and concepts. This conscientious vocabulary support ensures that young readers will not be reduced to disruptive trips to the dictionary.
Research indicates that when subject matter is coherently presented to facilitate students' understanding, students are not only more receptive to tackling an assignment, but also comprehend and recall significantly more of the text. This exceptionally considerate social studies reader enables the teacher to work with the textbook rather than around it. When learning from social studies curricula becomes easier, students will surely develop a more positive and receptive attitude toward the discipline and toward lifelong reading to learn.
Copyright by Teachers' Curriculum Institute