Full Description
The aim of this book is to provide practical, research-based ideas that will help teachers strengthen their students' reading and writing performance. Each chapter provides practical ideas and resources designed for primary educators. This book approaches reading and writing programmes as if looking through two camera lenses. The first is a wide-angle view looking at the big picture, including effective schools research and the critical components of a complete, comprehensive reading and writing program. The second lens is a zoom lens focusing in on specific ideas, tips, lists and suggestions for strengthening students' reading and writing performance.
Table of Contents
About the Author ix
Introduction 1 (136)
1. A Practical Look at Literacy and Effective 3 (14)
School Practices
Student-Centered schools 3 (1)
Shared Purpose and Vision 4 (1)
Strong Instructional Leadership 5 (1)
Knowledgeable Staff Members 6 (2)
Alignment of Curriculum, Instruction, and 8 (1)
Assessment
Information and Data Collection 8 (2)
Maximizing Available Resources 10 (1)
Abundant and Focused Staff Development 10 (1)
Strong Family and Community Involvement 11 (1)
Embedding Change and Seeking Continuous 12 (1)
Improvement
First and Lasting Impressions-A Survey for 13 (2)
schools
Evaluation Checklist for Effective Schools 15 (2)
and Effective Classrooms
2. Components of an Effective, Complete 17 (20)
Reading Program
Read Aloud 18 (2)
Shared Reading 20 (4)
Guided Reading 24 (3)
Literacy Centers 27 (4)
Literature Circles 31 (2)
Independent Reading 33 (3)
Checklist for Components of an Effective, 36 (1)
Complete Reading Program
3. Essential Elements of Reading Instruction 37 (30)
Word Study 38 (9)
Phonemic Awareness 38 (2)
Phonics 40 (2)
Non-Decodable, High-Frequency Words 42 (2)
Vocabulary Development 44 (3)
Language Structure 47 (2)
Fluency 49 (2)
Comprehension 51 (2)
Specific Examples of Comprehension 53 (12)
Strategies
Pre-Reading Strategies 53 (5)
During-Reading strategies 58 (3)
After-Reading Strategies 61 (4)
Checklist for Elements of Reading 65 (2)
Instruction
4. Components of an Effective, Complete 67 (12)
Writing Program
Modeled Writing 68 (1)
Interactive Writing 69 (2)
Structured Writing 71 (3)
Writers Workshop 74 (2)
Independent Writing 76 (1)
Checklist for Components of an Effective, 77 (2)
Complete Writing Program
5. Teaching Writing Skills in Context 79 (10)
Content Instruction 79 (2)
Use of Language 81 (2)
Mechanics 83 (2)
Capitalization and Punctuation 83 (1)
Spelling 84 (1)
Revision and Editing 85 (2)
Checklist for Teaching Writing Skills in 87 (2)
Context
6. Other Instructional Factors Impacting the 89 (20)
Success of Reading and Writing Programs
Instructional Time 89 (1)
Instructional Materials 90 (12)
Using a Print-Rich Environment 102(1)
Incorporating a Variety of Assessments 103(4)
Reading Assessments 103(2)
Writing Assessments 105(1)
Student Self-Assessments 105(1)
Parent Assessments 106(1)
Checklist for Other Factors Impacting 107(2)
Reading and Writing Programs
7. Meeting the Needs of Struggling Readers 109(18)
Effective Teachers 110(1)
Outstanding Classroom Instruction 111(1)
Effective Reading Instruction 112(4)
Use of Instructional Time 116(1)
Appropriate Materials 117(2)
Program Options 119(1)
Effective Use of Resources 119(3)
Schoolwide Communication 122(1)
Family Programs 123(1)
Community Programs 124(1)
Supportive Policy Decisions 124(2)
Checklist for Meeting the Needs of 126(1)
Struggling Readers
8. Information Gathering and Data Collection 127(4)
9. Staff Training Ideas 131(6)
Group Process for Staff Training 131(6)
10. Fifty 10-Minute Tips for "Leaders" to Use 137(4)
to Impact the Reading and Writing Performance
of students
11. 101 Parent Tips to Enhance Literacy 141(6)
Conclusion 147(2)
References and Suggested Readings 149(6)
Index 155
