a practical routine for learning in all content areas (k-12)

Yes—we can have our cake and eat it too! We can improve students’ reading and writing performance without sacrificing authenticity. In Read, Talk, Write, Laura Robb shows us how. First, she makes sure students know the basics of six types of talk. Next, she shares 35 lessons that support rich conversation. Finally, she includes new pieces by Seymour Simon, Kathleen Krull, and others so you have texts to use right away. Read, Talk, Write: it’s a process your students not only can do, but one they will love to do.

A foundational reading and phonics program designed for the challenged and struggling readers. Invites students to crack the code and master the 44 sounds and 26 letters that make up the English language.

Reading for pleasure urgently requires a higher profile to raise attainment and increase children’s engagement as self-motivated and socially interactive readers. Building Communities of Engaged Readers highlights the concept of ‘Reading Teachers’ who are not only knowledgeable about texts for children, but are aware of their own reading identities and prepared to share their enthusiasm and understanding of what being a reader means. Sharing the processes of reading with young readers is an innovative approach to developing new generations of readers. Examining the interplay between the ‘will and the skill’ to read, the book distinctively details a reading for pleasure pedagogy and demonstrates that reader engagement is strongly influenced by relationships between children, teachers, families and communities. Importantly it provides compelling evidence that reciprocal reading communities in school encompass: a shared concept of what it means to be a reader in the 21st century; considerable teacher and child knowledge of children’s literature and other texts; pedagogic practices which acknowledge and develop diverse reader identities; spontaneous ‘inside-text talk’ on the part of all members; a shift in the focus of control and new social spaces that encourage choice and children’s rights as readers. Written by experts in the literacy field and illustrated throughout with examples from the project schools, it is essential reading for all those concerned with improving young people’s enjoyment of and attainment in reading.

When we talk, we tell stories and present ideas—rarely with much anxiety. But think about writing something and panic sets in. Overcome this crippling response by learning how to “talk” on paper. Joel Saltzman tells it like it is—with compassion, humor, and the “uncommon wisdom” of famous writers, artists, and musicians. Based on his popular workshop for the UCLA Writers’ Program, this is a program with proven results. You’ll discover how to: >Conquer the killer P’s—Perfectionism, Paralysis, and Procrastination. >Silence your inner critic. (“Shut up, already. I’m trying to write!”) >Stop worrying about the “rules” of grammar. >Get inspired when you don’t feel inspired. >Write with conviction, not apology! This best selling book gives you the daring and freedom to “talk” on paper without worrying whether it’s good or bad or what it’s going to “be”—the kind of writing that’s creative, energetic and, most of all, truly your own.

"This book reminds us why Laura Robb continues to be such an important voice in our field: She looks through kids’ eyes and sees into their futures. Literary conversations don’t just enrich kids days; they offer young people gifts that keep on giving: the ability to take risks, exercise creativity, build empathy, and develop the ability to negotiate." —from the foreword by Harvey "Smokey" Daniels When you get right down to it, literacy comes down to this: read, talk, write. But as every teacher knows, it can be hard for students to see and use these three moves in concert—until now. In Read, Talk, Write, Laura Robb lays out the classroom structures that create the time and space for students to have productive talk and written discourse about texts. With Laura’s guidance you’ll Use short texts by Seymour Simon, Kathleen Krull, Priscilla Cummings, and other popular fiction and nonfiction authors to teach students how to analyze and converse about texts Incorporate six kinds of talk into your instruction, including turn-and-talk, partner talks, and small-group discussions Use the wealth of in-book and online reproducibles to help students facilitate their own comprehension-building discussions Select from 35 lessons that address literary elements and devices, text structures, and comprehension strategies, and then use them to launch student-led talk about any text you teach Help your readers get in a read-talk-write flow, and know how to move from reading to talking to writing, to bring about deeper thinking Achieve high levels of performance around inferring, comparing and contrasting, summarizing and synthesizing, and other key skills by way of classroom conversations that make these advanced levels the norm

In each chapter, there is an introduction to a strategy, guidelines for using the strategy in the classroom, and activities to do before, during, or after reading. There is also a complete model lesson that includes a reproducible reading selection, reproducible student page, and follow-up activities. -- P. 5.

This revised edition offers 30 specific strategies, readily integrated into daily lesson plans, to help K-12 students extend their thinking capabilities and raise their achievement levels.

Learn how to tap into the power of imagery, communication, and collaboration to make vocabulary building fun and meaningful! Research has proven that students with a larger, more nuanced vocabulary become more proficient readers, writers, critical thinkers, and learners, making them more likely to succeed in academic environments. In this new book from Joanne M. Billingsley, an award-winning teacher and educational consultant, you will discover how to help your K-12 students expand their academic vocabulary across the content areas. Topics include: Using card sorts and video trailers to make vocabulary-building interactive; Expanding your teaching strategies to support ELLs and early readers; Building students’ word knowledge through emblematic and iconic gestures; Writing and asking scaffolded questions to get all students engaged with academic vocabulary; And much, much more! The book also features sample teacher-to-student dialogues to demonstrate how to talk about words, as well as games and activities that motivate students and help word meanings stick. No matter what subject area you teach, your students will benefit from the exciting and powerful strategies in this book.