For most of her life, Harper Lee was (reluctantly) famous for her classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee's newest book, Go Set a Watchman, caused quite a media frenzy even before its publication. This text examines how Lee’s Southern background (she was a descendant of General Robert E. Lee) and racial tensions in the Deep South during that time came together to influence the plot, characters, and themes of To Kill a Mockingbird. This volume also explores the history of Go Set a Watchman and the controversy surrounding it, comparing its themes and structure with Lee's beloved classic. Copious excerpts from the two works along with critical analysis help students interpret and understand the writings of this Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

For most of her life, Harper Lee was (reluctantly) famous for her classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee's newest book, Go Set a Watchman, caused quite a media frenzy even before its publication. This text examines how Lee’s Southern background (she was a descendant of General Robert E. Lee) and racial tensions in the Deep South during that time came together to influence the plot, characters, and themes of To Kill a Mockingbird. This volume also explores the history of Go Set a Watchman and the controversy surrounding it, comparing its themes and structure with Lee's beloved classic. Copious excerpts from the two works along with critical analysis help students interpret and understand the writings of this Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

This book collects the research on literacy, information regarding the importance of reading to children, sources of funding, and places to find information about literacy programs in the 50 states—all in a single volume. Family literacy programs can be remarkably effective in helping families who struggle in various areas of literacy or supporting their children's academic needs.Crash Course in Family Literacy Programs provides an introduction and an overview of this critical subject, defining what literacy, family literacy, and family literacy events are, and covering critical topics such as sources of funding, conclusions of recent research, and bilingual family literacy. The first half of the book is focused on laying out background information about family literacy, while the remainder provides practical how-to information for public and school libraries to develop their own family literacy programming. The book shows perspectives of public librarians, school principals, children's book store owners, and school personnel who have successfully implemented a family literacy program. Planning sheets and lesson templates are included, making it easy to develop a family literacy program.

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most widely read novels in American literature. It's also a perennial favorite in highschool English classrooms across the nation. Yet onetime author Harper Lee is a mysterious figure who leads a very private life in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, refusing to give interviews or talk about the novel that made her a household name. Lee's life is as rich as her fiction, from her girlhood as a rebellious tomboy to her days at the University of Alabama and early years as a struggling writer in New York City. Charles J. Shields is the author of the New York Times bestselling biography Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee, which he has adapted here for younger readers. What emerges in this riveting portrait is the story of an unconventional, high-spirited woman who drew on her love of writing and her Southern home to create a book that continues to speak to new generations of readers. Anyone who has enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird or Go Set a Watchman will appreciate this glimpse into the life of its fascinating author, which includes photographs of Harper Lee, her family, and the film version of To Kill a Mockingbird starring Gregory Peck. I Am Scout is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Being literate in an academic discipline means more than simply being able to read and comprehend text; it means you can think, speak, and write as a historian, scientist, mathematician, or artist. Doug Buehl strips away the one-size-fits-all approach to content area literacy and presents a much-needed instructional model for disciplinary literacy, showing how to mentor middle and high school learners to become "academic insiders" who are college and career ready. This thoroughly revised second edition of Developing Readers in the Academic Disciplines shows how to help students adjust their thinking to comprehend a range of complex texts that fall outside their reading comfort zones. This book --a natural companion to Buehl's Classroom Strategies for Interactive Learning, which has been bolstering student comprehension for almost three decades--provides the following supports for teachers: Instructional tools that adapt generic literacy practices to discipline-specific variations Strategies for frontloading instruction to activate and build background knowledge New approaches for encouraging inquiry around disciplinary texts In-depth exploration of the role of argumentation in informational text Numerous examples from science, mathematics, history and social studies, English/language arts, and related arts to show you what vibrant learning looks like in various classroom settings Developing Readers in the Academic Disciplines introduces teachers from all disciplines to new kinds of thinking and, ultimately, teaching that helps students achieve new levels of understanding.

Read-i-cide: The systematic killing of the love of reading, often exacerbated by the inane, mind-numbing practices found in schools. Reading is dying in our schools. Educators are familiar with many of the factors that have contributed to the decline, poverty, second-language issues, and the ever-expanding choices of electronic entertainment. In this provocative book Readicide: How Schools are Killing Reading and What You Can Do About It , author and teacher Kelly Gallagher suggests it is time to recognize a new and significant contributor to the death of reading: our schools. Readicide , Gallagher argues that American schools are actively (though unwittingly) furthering the decline of reading. Specifically, he contends that the standard instructional practices used in most schools are killing reading by:Valuing standardized testing over the development of lifelong readersMandating breadth over depth in instructionRequiring students to read difficult texts without proper instructional support and insisting students focus on academic textsIgnoring the importance of developing recreational readingLosing sight of authentic instruction in the looming shadow of political pressuresReadicide provides teachers, literacy coaches, and administrators with specific steps to reverse the downward spiral in reading-;steps that will help prevent the loss of another generation of readers.

In 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird was published to critical acclaim. To commemorate To Kill a Mockingbird's 50th anniversary, Michael J. Meyer has assembled a collection of new essays that celebrate this enduring work of American literature. These essays approach the novel from educational, legal, social, and thematic perspectives. Harper Lee's only novel won the Pulitzer Prize and was transformed into a beloved film starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch. An American classic that frequently appears in middle school and high school curriculums, the novel has been subjected to criticism for its subject matter and language. Still relevant and meaningful, To Kill a Mockingbird has nonetheless been under-appreciated by many critics. There are few books that address Lee's novel's contribution to the American canon and still fewer that offer insights that can be used by teachers and by students. These essays suggest that author Harper Lee deserves more credit for skillfully shaping a masterpiece that not only addresses the problems of the 1930s but also helps its readers see the problems and prejudices the world faces today. Intended for high school and undergraduate usage, as well as for teachers planning to use To Kill a Mockingbird in their classrooms, this collection will be a valuable resource for all teachers of American literature.

Practice for the PRAXIS and Become a ParaProfessional with REA’s Newest Teacher Certification Test Prep - PRAXIS II: ParaPro Assessment 0755 and 1755. Are you ready to become a ParaProfessional and boost your teaching career? REA’s latest addition to our PRAXIS II series was created specifically for individuals looking to attain the position of ParaProfessional as defined by the federally legislated No Child Left Behind Act (20 U.S.C. § 6319). The law requires paraprofessionals serving in an instructional capacity to demonstrate that they are knowledgeable in reading, writing, and math, and capable to assist in classroom instruction. Our comprehensive review chapters cover all the reading, writing, and mathematics topics tested on the exam, including: Reading Skills and Knowledge Application of Reading Skills and Knowledge to Classroom Instruction Writing Skills and Knowledge Application of Writing Skills and Knowledge of Classroom Instruction Mathematics Skills and Knowledge Application of Mathematics Skills and Knowledge to Classroom Instruction Two full-length practice tests feature every type of question, subject area, and skill tested on the PRAXIS II ParaProfessional exam. ParaProfessionals can identify their strengths and weaknesses while reinforcing their skills and testing their teaching knowledge. Our test prep comes complete with a customized study schedule and REA’s test-taking strategies and tips. If you’re training to become a ParaProfessional, this test prep will take you to the head of the class! REA books and software have proven to be the extra support teacher candidates need to pass their challenging test for licensure. Our comprehensive test preps are teacher-recommended and written by educators who have mastered the test and the related program of study.

From celebrated Pulitzer Prize-winning author Harper Lee, her bestselling novels To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman available together in this convenient e-book bundle. Set in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, and featuring characters that have become indelible in American culture, Harper Lee’s beloved classic of Southern literature, To Kill a Mockingbird and its follow-up, Go Set a Watchman, offer a haunting portrait of race and class, innocence and injustice, hypocrisy and heroism, tradition and transformation in the Deep South of the 1930s and 1950s that resonates today. Enduring in vision, Harper Lee’s timeless novels illuminate the complexities of human nature and the depths of the human heart with humor, unwavering honesty, and a tender, nostalgic beauty, and will be celebrated by generations to come.