Empower your students to unlock the hidden power of fiction

Fiction has the unique power to unlock a profound way of knowing the world, yet many learners struggle to understand and connect with literature on a deeper level. Building on the game-changing strategies from their bestselling Diving Deep Into Nonfiction, renowned educators Jeffrey D. Wilhelm and Michael W. Smith introduce a revolutionary framework that demystifies fiction for adolescent readers. This book empowers teachers to show students how to recognize the Rules of Notice—the conventions that signal what′s important in a text—and analyze key literary elements like genre, character, point of view, symbolism, and theme. The essential mental models in the book will guide students as they read and write fictional texts. When students learn to pay attention to these signals, they begin to unlock the rich, complex worlds that fiction offers.

This practical guide provides everything you need to help students become more competent and confident readers of fiction. Inside, you′ll find:

• A clear introduction to the four Rules of Notice that accomplished readers use intuitively: direct statements, calls to attention, ruptures, and reader′s response
• Classroom-tested lessons and engaging short excerpts that model how to apply these rules to any fictional text
• Sample think-alouds and ready-to-use materials that guide students to connect with what they notice and make their own meaning
• Strategies for interpreting essential literary elements, including genre, character, point of view, symbols, and thematic conversations

With this book, you′ll gain the tools to teach your students how to read fiction with intention and insight, giving them the confidence to navigate complex texts and discover the connections between literature and their own lives.

Michael W. Smith, a professor in Temple University′s College of Education, joined the ranks of college teachers after eleven years of teaching high school English. His research focuses on understanding both how adolescents and adults engage with texts outside school and how teachers can use those understandings to devise more motivating and effective instruction inside schools.  A classroom teacher for fifteen years, Jeffrey D. Wilhelm is currently Professor of English Education at Boise State University. He works in local schools as part of a Virtual Professional Development Site Network sponsored by the Boise State Writing Project, and regularly teaches middle and high school students. Jeff is the founding director of the Maine Writing Project and the Boise State Writing Project.