Offering research on afterschool literacy programs designed around teacher-student collaborative inquiry groups, this book demonstrates how adolescent learning is uniquely successful when grounded in dialogic conversation. By providing a robust theoretical framework for this approach in the middle school, Malavasic showcases how developing a learning community which focuses on mutual respect and attention to students’ personal academic literacy histories can become the catalyst for the overall success of teaching and learning in the classroom. Centered on building quality teacher-student relationships and creating a classroom learning community, this book highlights essential topics such as: The impact of talk-based critical thinking The augmentation on students’ motivation, engagement, and identity construction Research, theory, and pedagogy Celebrating literacy learning Collaborative Learning Communities in Middle School Literacy Education is the perfect addition for researchers, academics, and postgraduate students in the fields of literacy and those on Teacher Education programs. This volume positions collaborative inquiry learning as an effective way forward for teaching and learning in the middle school and is essential for those wanting to explore this further.

Offering research on afterschool literacy programs designed around teacher-student collaborative inquiry groups, this book demonstrates how adolescent learning is uniquely successful when grounded in dialogic conversation. By providing a robust theoretical framework for this approach in the middle school, Malavasic showcases how developing a learning community which focuses on mutual respect and attention to students' personal academic literacy histories can become the catalyst for the overall success of teaching and learning in the classroom. Centered on building quality teacher-student relationships and creating a classroom learning community, this book highlights essential topics such as: The impact of talk-based critical thinking The augmentation on students' motivation, engagement, and identity construction Research, theory, and pedagogy Celebrating literacy learning Collaborative Learning Communities in Middle School Literacy Education is the perfect addition for researchers, academics, and postgraduate students in the fields of literacy and those on Teacher Education programs. This volume positions collaborative inquiry learning as an effective way forward for teaching and learning in the middle school and is essential for those wanting to explore this further.

Build a community in your school and improve learning outcomes with this one-stop sourcebook that features the latest educational issues, new research-based strategies and activities, and more!

Developing Knowledge Communities through Partnerships for Literacy explores the development of knowledge communities - safe spaces on the educational landscape - where research and professional development with literacy teachers and writers can unfurl.

Leadership, collaborative learning, and student achievement – discover what works! This resource-rich book provides a straightforward, strategic path to achieving sustainable communities of collaborative learners. Research-proven inquiry techniques, vignettes, case studies and action-oriented protocols help you build strong learning relationships for high-impact student achievement. System leaders, principals and teachers learn to: Integrate diverse views and perspectives Build trust and hear every voice Leverage key resources and processes Build students’ cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal skills Use “Assessments-in-Action” to improve, monitor and sustain progress Build a collaborative culture through learning together Use this go-to guide to transform your school from a place of ‘good intentions’ to a center of intentional practice today!

Why just "sit and get" professional development when you can take charge of it? Schools nationwide are using professional learning communities to revitalize staff development, and Literacy Learning Communities shows you how to adapt this powerful framework to target the literacy strengths and needs of students in secondary schools. Whether you're an administrator, a staff developer, or a member of a teacher-study group, Literacy Learning Communities shows you how to make them happen, why they work, and how to get the most from them. In Literacy Learning Communities veteran staff developer ReLeah Cossett Lent shows how LLCs can energize the professional community of any middle or high school. She offers concrete steps toward success: a thorough review of the unambiguous research supporting both collaborative professional development models and the importance of authentic approaches to literacy learning and teaching specific steps for creating an initial literacy learning community to assess your school's reading and writing needs and to develop a three-year plan for authentic, sustained, and embedded staff development practical ideas for meeting your schools' challenges through professional development methods such as action research, peer coaching, and study groups. Throughout Literacy Learning Communities Lent provides smart suggestions for working with resistant faculty, overcoming a school-wide culture of isolation (a particular problem in secondary schools), and strengthening the professional relationships in your school to improve the efficacy of your LLCs. She even presents Questions for Reflection at the end of each chapter to stimulate your thinking and help you move toward relevant and sustained professional learning. Built on a combination of research and real-world experience, Literacy Learning Communities can help you build a culture of professional learning, peer support, and teacher engagement that will improve the performance of every learner - teachers and students alike.

Student learning communities (SLCs) are more than just a different way of doing group work. Like the professional learning communities they resemble, SLCs provide students with a structured way to solve problems, share insight, and help one another continually develop new skills and expertise. With the right planning and support, dynamic collaborative learning can thrive everywhere. In this book, educators Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and John Almarode explain how to create and sustain student learning communities by - Designing group experiences and tasks that encourage dialogue; - Fostering the relational conditions that advance academic, social, and emotional development; - Providing explicit instruction on goal setting and opportunities to practice progress monitoring; - Using thoughtful teaming practices to build cognitive, metacognitive, and emotional regulation skills; - Teaching students to seek, give, and receive feedback that amplifies their own and others' learning; and - Developing the specific leadership skills and strategies that promote individual and group success. Examples from face-to-face and virtual K–12 classrooms help to illustrate what SLCs are, and teacher voices testify to what they can achieve. No more hoping the group work you're assigning will be good enough—or that collaboration will be its own reward. No more crossing your fingers for productive outcomes or struggling to keep order, assess individual student contributions, and ensure fairness. Student Learning Communities shows you how to equip your students with what they need to learn in a way that is truly collective, makes them smarter together than they would be alone, creates a more positive classroom culture, and enables continuous academic and social-emotional growth.

The authors offer higher-level thinking and reading strategies that promote achievement for all students, with resources to build collaborative literacy, stimulate creativity, develop richer comprehension, and more.

Applicable at every academic level and in any subject, the text offers practical guidelines that are based on effective, current theories, and the extensive online teaching experience of the author. The book details 21 effective designs with guidelines, strategies, examples, and tips to assist readers in designing their own Online Collaborative Learning Community regardless of grade level, or delivery system (online, face-to-face, or mixed).