Are YOU Using the Signposts?

If you've been an English teacher for any length of time, chances are you've heard about the "Reading Signposts."  The Signposts were developed by Kylene Beers and Robert Probst, and are a fantastic way to teach students how to recognize patterns in their reading.

I bought this book in 2013 and promptly read it then started teaching the signposts. I had been teaching English for over a decade at that time, but I was given a period of remedial intensive reading and I wanted to do all I could to help those kiddos succeed, especially since I'm not a reading specialist.  And boy was this book helpful--for me and the students! But, the school year ended and I went back to only teaching English classes.  I got busy teaching standards and my school's curriculum, and just as promptly as I first implemented them, I forgot about the signposts that had made such a difference for my struggling readers.  Well, as I was straightening my bookshelf this summer, I happened upon this book again and I decided that this was the year to make a change.

This year, I'll only be teaching Freshman Honors, and at our school, with a large IB program, 9th Honors is a pre-IB/AP course.  Knowing the literary demands of the upper-division courses, I realized that the signposts will be a great wat to start our year, and will give the students important foundational knowledge that they can build on not only this year but as they continue on as readers in high school and college.

**Side note: Regardless of what grade you teach, I believe that the signposts can be successfully implemented in your class**

To be fair, the book does an amazing job of providing reproducible resources (and even sample anchor charts that you can replicate), but I am a tinkerer...I always have to adjust and tweak and make things suitable for my classroom needs.

After I created them, I realized that these resources may be helpful to you, too, so I'm offering them as a free download in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Inside you'll find:

• A Signpost chart that combines several of the book's charts into one document.  It provides the signpost definition, clues to recognize it, the literary elements it reinforces, follow-up questions, and why the signpost matters.  And, even more importantly, it is sized to be cut and glued into a standard composition book!
• A page of Signpost bookmarks.  I printed mine on Astrobright cardstock and cut them out.  I can't wait to give them to my students as we delve into the literature selections this year.
• A graphic organizer/notes handout to give students as we read several short stories at the start of the year. This organizer provides guiding questions to help students understand the signposts.

While I can't take credit for the creation of the signposts, I hope that you'll find use in these handouts.  And if you haven't read the book yet, check the link above...I don't get anything from Amazon, I just believe in this resource.

Happy teaching!