Full Description
Streamline literacy instruction while increasing student achievement
Dave R. Stuart Jr.'s work is centered on a simple belief: all students and teachers can flourish. Yet that seemingly simple goal can feel unattainable when teachers are expected to teach core content within the disciplines and improve literacy in their classrooms. How can teachers and students flourish under so much pressure?
Stuart's advice: Take a deep breath and refocus on six known best practices— establish and strengthen key beliefs, then build knowledge and increase reading, writing, speaking and listening, and argumentation in every content area, every day. These 6 Things is all about streamlining your practice so that you're teaching smarter, not harder, and kids are learning, doing, and flourishing in ELA and content-area classrooms. In this essential new resource, teachers will receive
Proven, classroom-tested advice delivered in an approachable, teacher-to-teacher style that builds confidence
Practical strategies for streamlining instruction in order to focus on key beliefs and literacy-building activities
Solutions and suggestions for the most common teacher and student "hang-ups"
Numerous recommendations for deeper reading on key topics
In addition to teaching English and world history for more than a decade, Stuart is well-known for his blog DaveStuartJr.com, which has over 35,000 visitors each month. This popular resource has been a beacon of light for more than 10,000 subscribers who refuse to freak out about the everyday challenges of teaching in a high-stakes era. He presents professional development workshops and institutes for schools around the United States and offers a number of online learning tools and experiences on his website.
Contents
CHAPTER 1. Teaching Toward Everest
Long-Term Flourishing: The Peak of Peaks
Permission to Simplify
Let's Focus on What We Already Know
The Gist
PART I: START WITH THE HEART
CHAPTER 2. Cultivate Key Beliefs
Why Beliefs?
The Five Research-Based Beliefs That Drive Student Learning Behaviors (and How to Cultivate Them)
What I've Learned to Be True About These Beliefs
The Gist
PART II: MAKING MASTERY
CHAPTER 3. Build Knowledge Purposefully and Often
The Criticality of Knowledge
Promising Practices Toward Meaningful Knowledge Building
The Gist
CHAPTER 4. Argue Purposefully and Often
The Argument for Argument
Cultivate an Earnest and Amicable Argument Culture
Increase the Quantity of Argumentation in Your Classroom
Improve the Quality of Argumentation in Your Classroom
The Gist
PART III: LITERACY-RICH LEARNING EXPERIENCES
CHAPTER 5. Read Purposefully and Often
The Case for Reading Throughout the School Day
A Focused, Sensible Approach to Reading Throughout the School Day for the Long-Term Flourishing of Our Students
The Gist
CHAPTER 6. Write Purposefully and Often
The Case for Writing Throughout the School Day
A Focused, Sensible Approach to Writing Throughout the School Day for the Long-Term Flourishing of Our Students
Sanity Check: Mentally Disentangling Grading From Feedback and Better, Saner Tips for Tackling Both
The Gist
CHAPTER 7. Speak and Listen Purposefully and Often
The Case for Speaking and Listening Throughout the School Day
A Focused, Sensible Approach to Speaking and Listening Throughout the School Day for the Long-Term Flourishing of Our Students
The Gist
CHAPTER 8. Onward and Upward
Pick a Project
Commit to This, and Nothing Else, for a Long Time
A Gift for You
Acknowledgments
References and Recommended Readings
Index
