Comprehension » Claims to Fame®

Claims to Fame®
Short biographies to develop comprehension and writing skills
by Carol Einstein
High/Low resources appropriate for Grades 4–12

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An architect, a physician, an umpire, an aviator, and a cartoonist: these are just a few of the careers represented in this book of short biographies.

Students will develop reading, thinking, and writing skills (useful for succeeding on standardized tests) as they learn about diverse people, both contemporary and historical. The brief stories, running from one-and-a-half to three pages as the series advances, are accompanied by black-and-white photos showing the subject or his or her work. Preceding each story is a question that leads students to reflect on what they already know about the topic. Vocabulary words are highlighted and then defined after the reading selection. Featured biographies include Walter Mosley, Fiorello LaGuardia, Roger Tory Peterson, Yo-Yo Ma, and more.

Three exercises—Thinking about What You Have Read, Working with Words, and Writing Skills—check comprehension, expand vocabulary, and offer writing opportunities.