ABSTRACT
The desire for teachers' learners to embrace reading fiction and nonfiction is a major goal for all educators. The evidence of teachers' learners’ abilities to interpret, evaluate, and communicate the meaning of content and its impact on the world around them is paramount as teachers prepare them for middle or high school. The personal links to the chosen reading push teachers' learners deeper into the inquiry phenomena. To illustrate the importance of this inquiry, let’s take a look at a multi-grade example that could launch a challenge using stories to spark relevant inquiry questions. Authentic challenges provide teachers' learners with a reason to write and to do so for an authentic audience. Learners who engage in writing for a purpose must use diverse genres of writing to communicate their solutions and the justification for those solutions. Virtual connections between classes are easier than ever through Google Docs or any other collaborative writing tool.
