A Celebration of Literature and Response: Children, Books, and Teachers in K-8 Classrooms (2nd Edition) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I chose this book for a children's literature class that I lead based mostly on cost. The other recommended texts in this area are very expensive and I wanted my students to be able to purchase quality trade books as well. I need to supplement the reading a great deal because of the cursory nature of the chapters regarding various genres. For the money, it's a fine text but be aware that it leaves out a great deal that that other books - such as Norton's Through the Eyes of a Child from the same publisher - cover in greater depth.

Click Here to see more reviews about: A Celebration of Literature and Response: Children, Books, and Teachers in K-8 Classrooms (2nd Edition)

Reinforced by teachers' experiences in actual classrooms, this book provides a wealth of ideas for projects, readings, and response-based activities that will engage all learners in the joy of reading and responding to literature. It blends an appreciation of children's books across all genres with an emphasis on meaningful instructional strategies for literacy programs. Coverage of multicultural/international literature helps illustrate the universality of themes in children's literature—providing a basis for establishing a library of literature that expresses the totality of children's experiences and speaks to children from all cultures and backgrounds. Coverage is based on Louise Rosenblatt's transactional theory of reader response, and organized around five main "celebrations"that the author uses as a framework for uniting the findings of reader-response theory with quality children's literature and exemplary reflective, literature-based practice. Includes expanded coverage on multicultural/international literature—including numerous examples of children's literature written and published in other countries. Includes extensive coverage of reader responses to literature—oral and written responses, as well as those made through the visual arts. For teachers of Children's Literature. Introduces future teaches to the full range of children's responses to literature—encourages the use of a variety of strategies to elicit authentic, heartfelt, meaningful responses from pupils. An appendix on children's literature awards. Highlights exemplary children's literature across all genres—focuses students' attention on established standards and offers guidance for choosing literature that meets such standards. CONTENTS

Click here for more information about A Celebration of Literature and Response: Children, Books, and Teachers in K-8 Classrooms (2nd Edition)

Read More...

Teaching Reading Sourcebook: Sourcebook for Kindergarten Through Eight Grade (Core Literacy Training Series) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)CORE Teaching Reading Resourcebook is a superior book to use as a reference in the classroom. It supports all areas of reading in grades K-8. Also it has wonderful advice about ELL students. Not only does this book have information about teaching reading, but it has hands on teaching methods that are proven practices. Some of the larger areas of the book are word structure, sound/print connection, decoding, spelling, vocabulary development, comprehension, reading and responding, and differentiated instruction. CORE Teaching Reading Resourcebook greatly compliments Words Their Way, another must have book. One downfall about this book is the page numbering system, but as you work from the book it becomes less difficult.
My first book was given to me from the California Reading and Literature Project and I'm buying another copy for my son, who is also a teacher. I would recommend this book to any teacher interested in improving their knowledge of teaching reading. I often review my teaching strategies with this book before finalizing my lesson plans.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Teaching Reading Sourcebook: Sourcebook for Kindergarten Through Eight Grade (Core Literacy Training Series)

Click here for more information about Teaching Reading Sourcebook: Sourcebook for Kindergarten Through Eight Grade (Core Literacy Training Series)

Read More...

Read It Again: Revisiting Shared Reading Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Brenda Parkes pushes our thinking about the practice of shared reading. Using poetry, traditional tales, contemporary fiction and non-fiction texts are just the beginning to a language-rich classroom supporting young readers and writers. Do you ever find yourself stuck in the 5 day cycle of shared reading? You have to read Chapter 4 to learn about the "3 text model." Brenda's questioning is brilliant as she gently guides children as they become strategic readers. She also guides us as we become strategic teachers! The "Author's Perspective" pages support our understanding of how her big books were developed. This is a must have resource. You will change your thinking about shared reading - guaranteed!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Read It Again: Revisiting Shared Reading


"This book anchors shared reading as an essential element within a comprehensive and balanced literacy program."Margaret Mooney

In this book, Brenda Parkes introduces new teachers to shared reading and helps experienced teachers revitalize this important teaching practice. Starting with the bedtime story, Read It Again! outlines the essential elements and benefits of shared reading and provides detailed examples which show how a shared reading session unfolds in the classroom.

By including examples of implicit and explicit teaching, Brenda demonstrates how shared reading helps children develop a range of strategies for reading and comprehending text. You will find detailed strategies that support learners in developing self-extending systems through their understanding of content and process and several examples of independent activities that consolidate and extend learning.

Good book selection is the key to successful shared reading experiences. In discussing the criteria for quality book selection, Brenda shows us how to critically assess the teaching and learning possibilities in shared reading books and how to use a variety of text types to model purpose, content, and form. The book includes an analysis of supportive text features for the different needs of emergent, early, and fluent readers. Annotated bibliographies provide a quick reference to quality books.

Read It Again! refines and extends our understanding of shared reading, and shows primary teachers how to put this valuable approach into practice.

Click here for more information about Read It Again: Revisiting Shared Reading

Read More...

Naming the World: A Year of Poems and Lessons Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This anthology is a valuable companion for any teacher who wants to incorporate poetry into their classroom. I love many of the selections, reading each poem either quietly to myself or out loud to my students; however, several poems are inappropriate for middle students.
Some poems contain curses and mention alcoholic beverages. Suicide was a topic in one or two, while a small unit seems to be devoted to an anti-American theme. (I believe a one-sided political agenda is unimaginative for young writers; they deserve a spectrum of viewpoints.) While every poem is well written, I feel uncomfortable saying the "n" word or imitating a speech impediment, for example, to a group of middle school students. (I can't think of a setting where I would feel comfortable doing this.) Use your discretion with this book.
Fortunately there are a few hundred poems. So, if daily poetry is something you'd like to add to your teaching repertoire, and I highly recommend it, this is a good start.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Naming the World: A Year of Poems and Lessons


Harnessing the power of poetry, Nancie Atwell's Naming the World: A Year of Poems and Lessons empowers adolescents to make sense of their personal place in the world while honing their critical reading and writing skills. Naming the World's 200+ poems and accompanying five-to-ten-minute lessons are used by Nancie every day to jumpstart her reading and writing workshops. Poetry is the foundation upon which her students build excellences as writers in every genre. This is your chance to make the first few minutes of your Language Arts class really count!

The 200+ Poems:

are compiled from contemporary poets
were nominated by Nancie's students as their favorites
speak to adolescent interests and issues
include poems by Nancie's kids to teach and inspire yours.
The 150 Lessons:
are used daily by Nancie to jumpstart her reading-writing workshop
apply a range of interactive and independent learning strategies
present the language Nancie uses with her students.

Click here for more information about Naming the World: A Year of Poems and Lessons

Read More...

Mini-Lessons for Literature Circles Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)As a high school English teacher, one of my biggest challenges is the constant prodding of my students to take an active role in their reading. I've worked with a Literature Circle approach for several years, experimenting with different techniques, tweaking my daily lessons, and adding new strategies as I come across them. Now, with this book, Daniels and Steineke have blown me away. They have filled the book with dozens of practical ideas, from mini-lessons on short readings to using book choice in class. Even if you don't use a full Literature Circle approach, their research-based instructional strategies about harvesting techniques, discussion boosters, and even assessment ideas have re-energized my teaching approach. This is a practical, intelligent book that I see becoming a staple in my professional library. As they detail different strategies and their mini-lessons build on important reading strategies, a central thread is evident: a focus on student reflection of the reading-discussion process. I'm hooked. I recommend it to anyone who teaches English or anyone looking for ways to spice up the simple act of reading an article and talking about it in class. Buy the book. Give it to a fellow teacher. Buy another copy. It is worth it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Mini-Lessons for Literature Circles


Harvey Daniels' Literature Circles introduced tens of thousands of teachers to the power of student-led book discussions. Nancy Steineke's Reading and Writing Together showed how a teacher can nurture friendship and collaboration among young readers. Now, Daniels and Steineke team up to focus on one crucial element of the Literature Circle model; the short, teacher-directed lessons that begin, guide and follow-up every successful book club meeting.

Mini-lessons are the secret to book clubs that click. Each of these forty-five short, focused, and practical lessons includes Nancy and Harvey's actual classroom language and is formatted to help busy teachers with point-by-point answers to the questions they most frequently ask.
How can I:
steer my students toward deeper comprehension?
get kids interested in each others' ideas?
make sure kids choose just-right books?
help students schedule their reading and meeting time?
deal with kids who don't do the reading?
get kids to pay more attention to literary style and structure?
help special education and ELL students to participate actively in book clubs?
get kids to expand their repertoire of reading strategies?
make sure groups are on-task when I'm not looking over their shoulder?
introduce writing tools (including role sheets) that support student discussion?.
help shy or dominating members get the right amount of "airtime?"
give grades for book clubs without ruining the fun?
use scientific research to justify the classroom time I spend on literature circles?

Each mini-lesson spells out everything from the time and materials needed to word-by-word instructions for students. The authors even warn "what could go wrong," helping teachers to avoid predictable management problems. With abundant student examples, reproducible forms, photographs of kids in action, and recommended reading lists, Mini-lessons for Literature Circles helps you deepen student book discussions, create lifelong readers, and build a respectful classroom community.

Click here for more information about Mini-Lessons for Literature Circles

Read More...