Wilhelm, Jeffrey D. (2002)
Action Strategies for Deepening Comprehension.
New York: Scholastic.
In this very valuable and practical book, Jeffrey Wilhelm describes how using “enactments” in the classroom can deepen students’ comprehension by giving them opportunities to engage with, challenge and confront texts from various points of view. Based on research and practical experience, Wilhelm provides a blue print for encouraging rigorous creative and critical thinking by guiding students through exercises in which they actively imagine their way through a text.
When teachers stage enactments, they invite their students to respond to texts by “living through” what they have read. For example, students might be given a scenario and asked to role-play how various characters from their reading would react to it. They might also be asked to become certain characters while the rest of the class puts them on the “hot seat;” asking them questions to determine the motivations and justifications for their behavior.
The range of enactments suggested by Wilhelm makes this book a very worthwhile resource. Exercises designed for every grade level and for before, during and after reading are included. There are detailed step-by-step instructions for teachers. He even reprints a short story and explains a variety of enactments in terms of this example. Sample student activity sheets, examples of student work and written guidelines for activities are also included.
As someone who has long believed in the unique value of dramatic play as a response to literature, I am happy that this book makes teachers aware of its potential to transform students’ reading experiences. I am particularly grateful that Action strategies for deepening comprehension has such a “teacher friendly” format so that more and more teachers will actually try some of these exciting ideas.
Pages: 191
Price: $17.95
ISBN: 0-439-21857-8
Reviewed by: Irene Rosenthal, College of St. Rose, Albany, NY
