Experience Nonfiction

When students have opportunities to think deeply about the content in informational sources, their worlds expand. This type of learning is wondrous to observe and vital to support. Explore this site to learn more about instruction that supports this kind of learning and to learn more about Dr. Sunday Cummins and her work as an educational consultant, author and researcher.

“Sound boxes in my brain!”

September 5, 2023

A quick story about a conference I had with a young student in the early stage of reading. In just a few minutes of 1:1 conferring, she made a vital connection between word study activities and word solving while reading. It was joyous to watch! At one point she exclaimed, “Well! I have sound boxes …Read more

Sample Author’s Purpose Text Set

February 15, 2023

When reading multiple sources, noticing the author’s purpose can help a student 1) remember the content of the source and 2) begin to notice the similarities and differences between sources. I’ve created a Padlet with a text set on recycling – one for each type of author’s purpose (e.g. P.R.I.D.E.) (4th-8th grade). Please feel free …Read more

Noticing an Author’s Purpose Can Lead to Transformative Understanding

February 9, 2023

Noticing an author’s purpose helps us 1) determine what’s important in a source, 2) begin to think critically about the information in a source, and 3) remember what we read. What follows are a few recommendations for teaching “author’s purpose.” Integrate WHY into your discussions of author’s purpose The WHY of noticing an author’s purpose …Read more

District Instructional Coordinator, North Kansas City Schools

Nuturing Informed Thinking book by Sunday Cummins

Practical help for teaching students in grades 3-8 to read, talk, and write across informational sources.

Close Reading of Informational Sources book by Sunday Cummins

Introduces a three-phase plan for teaching and provides guidance for planning and assessing students’ comprehension of informational sources.

Unpacking Complexity in Informational Texts book by Sunday Cummins

Explains the ways in which a text’s purpose, structure, details, connective language and construction of themes combine to create meaning.

Experience Nonfiction

Recent Blog Posts from Sunday

“Sound boxes in my brain!”

Sample Author’s Purpose Text Set

Noticing an Author’s Purpose Can Lead to Transformative Understanding

What Others Are Saying About Sunday and Her Work

Dr. Lisa Friesen

District Instructional Coordinator, North Kansas City Schools

Professional Books Authored by Sunday