Breakthroughs in Literacy
Teacher Success Stories and Strategies, Grades K-8
Published on 4. September 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-0-470-37182-4 (ISBN)
Description
Teachers share advice on creating successful literacy classrooms for all students, including those who struggle This much-needed resource is filled with lively and inspiring stories from teachers who overcame challenges with underperforming and struggling learners-many of them special needs students-to make significant breakthroughs in reading and writing instruction. The teachers reveal their trials, errors, and triumphs in how they discovered particular instructional strategies or incorporated modeling and motivational techniques that best addressed students' learning needs and opened a path to success. Compelling and absorbing, the book includes unusual and often surprising approaches for connecting with students, including books that made a difference.* Offers wisdom, inspiration, and guidance on working with varied students to improve reading and writing skills* Contains 29 stories from real-world teachers who have had success in teaching literacy* Summary sections focus on key breakthrough strategies, lessons learned, reflection questions, actions tips, and recommended resources* Describes effective modeling, motivational, and engagement practices
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Chichester
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 224 mm
Width: 160 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
304 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-470-37182-4 (9780470371824)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Susan E. Israel, PhD., is an independent researcher, writer, and literacy consultant. A former elementary teacher, she has written and edited books for the International Reading Association.
Content
Introduction:Why Teacher Stories? xi Acknowledgments xix The Author and Editor xxi The Contributors xxiii PART ONE Connection: Knowing the Learner About the Stories 3 Susan E. Israel Expecting the Aha! Moment 7 Karen Kindle Facing My Chair Forward 11 Limor Pinhasi-Vittorio Books Will Be Her Legs 17 Vicki S. Collet "I Guess Kids Can Be Teachers Sometimes" 21 Cynthia J. Poston Through the Red Door of Room 207 25 Angie Zapata To Know Them Is to Teach Them 29 Martha Ford Reflections on the Breakthroughs 33 Susan E. Israel breakthrough elements 34 reflection questions 35 lessons learned 36 ten literacy breakthrough actions you can take today 37 further reading 38 PART TWO Motivation: The Right Book Can Make a Difference About the Stories 43 Susan E. Israel Carpet Fuzz, a Staple, and a Story 47 Danna Parsons A Plan to Listen 51 Emily Manning Every Picture Tells a Story: Supporting Young Authors with Wordless Picture Books 55 Elizabeth M. Frye "I'm an Amazing Reader!" 59 Karen A. Jorgensen A Special Boy Teaches Us Special Lessons 63 William P. Bintz and Pamela L.Wright Kids Become Better Readers ... by Reading! 67 Kathy A. Egawa The Mattie Club: Created by Children Who Love Poetry and Life 73 Lindsay P. Grow My Opinion: No One Ever Asked Before 77 Lisa Janes Spiderman to the Rescue 81 Daniel T. Holm Reflections on the Breakthroughs 87 Susan E. Israel breakthrough elements 88 reflection questions 90 lessons learned 90 ten literacy breakthrough actions you can take today 91 further reading 92 PART THREE Engagement: Multisensory Experiences About the Stories 97 Susan E. Israel Learning to Read His Own Way 99 Terry S. Atkinson If They Can't Learn the Way We Teach,Maybe We Should Teach the Way They Learn 103 Nina L. Nilsson "I Gotta Touch the Book!" Reading Aloud with Young Toddlers 109 Amelia C. Evans and Mariana Souto-Manning "What Does This Say?" A Small Request with Huge Implications 113 Marianne McTavish Gifts from My Heart 117 Mary J. Banta Ten-Year-Olds, Tapes, and the Epiphany 121 Sheila Gaquin Why Art? 125 Monique Poldberg Reflections on the Breakthroughs 129 Susan E. Israel breakthrough elements 130 reflection questions 132 lessons learned 133 ten literacy breakthrough actions you can take today 134 further reading 135 PART FOUR Transformation: Learning Together About the Stories 139 Susan E. Israel Perseverance,Motivation, and Collaboration: The Tools Needed for Success 141 Katie Sullivan Better Than a Base Hit 145 Deborah Vessels "Cheeese!" 149 Gina A. Goble Formulaic Writing Is Not for Everyone: Especially Gifted First Graders 153 Evangelina "Gigi" Brignoni Spelling, Reading, and Writing Give Joey an Unexpected Voice and His Teacher and Classmates Inspiration 157 Richard M. Oldrieve "You Know Those Marks ... ?" 163 Alexa L. Sandmann Nudging One Reluctant Writer into Action 167 Lori Berman Wolf Reflections on the Breakthroughs 177 Susan E. Israel breakthrough elements 178 reflection questions 179 lessons learned 180 ten literacy breakthrough actions you can take today 180 further reading 181 PART FIVE Conclusion Seven Pathways to Literacy Learning 185 Susan E. Israel pathway #1: be open to discovery 187 pathway #2: develop an "i can" attitude 188 pathway #3: cultivate students' trust 190 pathway #4: match strategy to the learner 191 pathway #5: celebrate achievements 192 pathway #6: seek wisdom from others 193 pathway #7: make teaching personal 193 References 197 Index 201