Landscapes: Groundwork for College Reading

LANDSCAPES is a comprehensive college reading preparatory text (spanning grade levels 8-10) that takes a metacognitive approach and focuses on how the brain processes information, often referred to as brain-based learning. Since metacognition can best be understood as thinking about thinking, the text consistently presents new information with written think alouds to model the thought process involved in applying skills and strategies to reading passages. Based on the premise that the brain learns best through organization of information, the text presents the recognition of text structure and organization as a fundamental skillone that is especially important for students who have limited prior knowledge of a subject.

This focus on text structure provides a scaffold onto which developmental-level readers can apply new knowledge. Information is presented in a carefully crafted sequence that serves to build upon prior knowledge and expand understanding of skills and strategies in a recursive manner.

Evans Carter is a Professor at St. Louis Community College at Meramec in the English department (since 1999) and has served as the Coordinator of their Reading Program for 5 years. Prior to her appointment in St.

Louis, Christine was lead reading faculty in the transitional studies department at Denmark Technical College in South Carolina. She has also taught as an adjunct instructor at several institutions. Christine has a BA in English and an MA in Cultural Anthropology from the Uearns best through organization of information, the text presents the recognition of text structure and organization as a fundamental skillone that is especially important for students who have limited prior knowledge of a subject.

This focus on text structure provides a scaffold onto which developmental-level readers can apply new knowledge. Information is presented in a carefully crafted sequence that serves to build upon prior knowledge and expand understanding of skills and strategies in a recursive manner.