**Use the Boolean Operators AND, OR to add power and precision to your searching!**

• Example using AND: (literacy) AND (critical thinking),

• Examples using OR:
  • (reading OR literacy)
  • (technological literacy OR digital literacy)
  • (school vouchers OR school choice)
  • (special education OR learning disabilities)
  • (ELL OR English Language Learners)

• Examples using AND & OR:
  • (reading OR literacy) AND (comprehension OR understanding)
  • (whiteboards OR smart boards) AND (instruction OR teaching)
  • literacy AND (comprehension OR understanding) AND (making predictions OR making inferences)
  • (literacy) and (teaching or instruction) and (elementary or grade 1 or grade 2)

• Put phrases in quotes, for example, "English language learners."  This ensures that the phrase is searched as a meaningful unit.  All words of the phrase must occur together, in that order, in the results of the search.
• Using nesting! Very useful technique of enclosing each concept in your search in parentheses. Helps to mark off "meaning units," for example (reading OR literacy).  Helps you to understand your search visually.
• Try subject searching if keyword search not successful.  Explore the ERIC thesaurus!!
• Remember there is usually more than one strategy for searching on a topic.
• It's a trial and error process!!
• When searching for a topic or focus, browsing in the L section of the book stacks (4th floor) or the Teacher Professional materials section of the Curriculum Room (also 4th floor) can be useful!