The joyful path from rich read-aloud experiences toward supporting young readers’ independence. When young readers join their voices together in shared reading, their literacy skills and confidence soar. Shared reading surrounds students with the language of stories and the delight of learning in community. In Shake Up Shared Reading, veteran teacher Maria Walther offers teachers a simple but robust scaffolding for moving from teacher-led demonstration of read aloud to student-led discovery of literacy skills—across the bridge of shared reading. This easily adaptable structure features short, targeted bursts of shared reading that are connected to and planned as a follow-up to a read-aloud experience. The resource includes: Read-aloud experiences drawn from 50 recently published works of children’s literature from varied voices, that provide the foundation for the short, intensive shared reading interactions that follow. 100 short, laser-focused bursts of shared reading, two for each title, that invite students to dig deeper, with a precise aim in mind—perfect for a variety of learning contexts including virtual settings. Key vocabulary, kid-friendly definitions, along with a Nudge Toward Independence section for each shared reading interaction help teachers connect shared reading to guided reading lessons and students’ independent literacy learning. A companion website offering reproducibles and a Learning Target Chart that gives an at-a-glance view of every read aloud learning target and shared reading focus, along related titles and additional links. Let the power of a read aloud and shared reading lead your students to read, talk, ponder, and react on the way to becoming joyful, independent readers.

"Shared reading is the bridge between read-alouds and independent reading for most early readers. Yet it's seldom a regular practice in primary grade classrooms because teachers struggle to find the right books and ask the right questions of young readers. Building from the tremendous success of her book The Ramped-Up Read Aloud, Maria Walther provides ready-to-go multi-day learning sequences focused on one picture book that show the connections between read-alouds and shared reading. Shake Up Shared Reading provides teachers with a diverse collection of recent, compelling texts that are ideal for shared reading, along with clear and direct language to use with students. Every lesson is rooted in research and best practice, based on Maria's 30+ years teaching first grade"--

A new, interactive approach to storytime, The Whole Book Approach was developed in conjunction with the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and expert author Megan Dowd Lambert's graduate work in children's literature at Simmons College, offering a practical guide for reshaping storytime and getting kids to think with their eyes. Traditional storytime often offers a passive experience for kids, but the Whole Book approach asks the youngest of readers to ponder all aspects of a picture book and to use their critical thinking skills. Using classic examples, Megan asks kids to think about why the trim size of Ludwig Bemelman's Madeline is so generous, or why the typeset in David Wiesner's Caldecott winner,The Three Pigs, appears to twist around the page, or why books like Chris Van Allsburg's The Polar Express and Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar are printed landscape instead of portrait. The dynamic discussions that result from this shared reading style range from the profound to the hilarious and will inspire adults to make children's responses to text, art, and design an essential part of storytime.

The Literacy Workshop: Where Reading and Writing Converge is a first-of-its-kind resource that offers a practical process for creating an integrated literacy workshop using demonstration lessons that align with current curriculum standards. In this forward-thinking book, authors Maria Walther and Karen Biggs-Tucker share what they've learned over countless reading and writing workshops and combine into one literacy workshop. The authors demonstrate how you can save valuable classroom time while still empowering students to uncover exciting connections in their learning – leading to stronger, more motivational readers and writers. By weaving the common threads of literacy learning together, you can increase the time your students spend engaged in authentic reading and writing. Inside you'll find the following: A clear, succinct explanation of the literacy workshop structure, how to get started, and how to determine the best time to begin the merge 50+ demonstration lesson plans, appropriate for both primary and intermediate grade levels, that use strategies incorporating elements from recommended fiction and nonfiction anchor texts Substantial, printable resources and online tools to help make this instructional shift as smooth as possible. From the big picture to small, helpful details, The Literacy Workshop will be your guide as you blur the lines between your reading and writing workshops - creating space for students to apply their learning and practice the habits, behaviors, and actions of literate and engaged citizens.

The joyful path from rich read-aloud experiences toward supporting young readers’ independence. When young readers join their voices together in shared reading, their literacy skills and confidence soar. Shared reading surrounds students with the language of stories and the delight of learning in community. In Shake Up Shared Reading, veteran teacher Maria Walther offers teachers a simple but robust scaffolding for moving from teacher-led demonstration of read aloud to student-led discovery of literacy skills—across the bridge of shared reading. This easily adaptable structure features short, targeted bursts of shared reading that are connected to and planned as a follow-up to a read-aloud experience. The resource includes: Read-aloud experiences drawn from 50 recently published works of children’s literature from varied voices, that provide the foundation for the short, intensive shared reading interactions that follow. 100 short, laser-focused bursts of shared reading, two for each title, that invite students to dig deeper, with a precise aim in mind—perfect for a variety of learning contexts including virtual settings. Key vocabulary, kid-friendly definitions, along with a Nudge Toward Independence section for each shared reading interaction help teachers connect shared reading to guided reading lessons and students’ independent literacy learning. A companion website offering reproducibles and a Learning Target Chart that gives an at-a-glance view of every read aloud learning target and shared reading focus, along related titles and additional links. Let the power of a read aloud and shared reading lead your students to read, talk, ponder, and react on the way to becoming joyful, independent readers.

Is the learning in your classroom static or dynamic? Shake Up Learning guides you through the process of creating dynamic learning opportunities-from purposeful planning and maximizing technology to fearless implementation.

All On-Your-Feet Guide orders receive FREE SHIPPING! Use code SHIPOYFG at check out. In this easy-to-use but comprehensive guide to Shared Reading, teachers will learn what shared reading is, how to prepare before, during and after shared reading, and how to assess it. In this On-Your-Feet Guide, teachers will find: Lesson outline included with “What the teacher says/does and What the student does displayed side-by-side. An If-Then chart that helps teachers troubleshoot common problems. Student language frames for narrative and nonfiction text are included. Assessment advice and helpful hints On-Your-Feet Guides (OYFGs) provide you with the ultimate “cheat sheet” to implement effective change in your classroom while in the moment of teaching. Designed for accessibility, and providing step-by-step guidance, the OYFGs are written by experts who take research-based practices and make them doable for the busy teacher. Each On-Your-Feet Guide is laminated, 8.5”x11” tri-fold (6 pages), and 3-hole punched. Use the On-Your-Feet Guides When you know the “what” but need help with the “how” As a quick reference to support a practice you learned in a PD workshop or book To learn how to implement foundational practices When you want to help your students learn a specific strategy, routine, or approach, but aren’t sure how to do it yourself

What if each page of a picture book was guaranteed to enhance a child’s reading and writing tenfold? Would you ramp up your read alouds? In this remarkable resource, Maria Walther shares two-page read aloud experiences for 101 picture books that tune you into what to notice, say, and wonder in order to bolster students’ literacy exponentially. The read alouds in this book will help teachers: Foster a strong sense of community Celebrate the written (and illustrated) word Build a foundation for future reading and learning Expand vocabulary (with a focus on Tier 2 words) Support budding writers Spark collaborative conversations Encourage perspective-taking, empathy, and a growth mindset A first grade teacher for decades, Maria is a master of "strategic savoring." Her lesson design efficiently sparks instructional conversations around the cover illustration, enriching vocabulary words, literary language, and the ideas and themes vital to young learners. Maria arranges the rich fiction and nonfiction titles into chapters that mirror the way primary teachers plan curriculum. Need books tailor made for building community? Teaching literary elements? Comprehension strategies? Foundational and language skills? Inspiring writers? It’s all here and at the ready. Coaching tips on expressive oral reading, strategic seating, uncovering language nuances for EL students, effective questioning and more make the art of sharing books and learning with children do-able for everyone. Teachers, schools, and districts looking to energize your core reading and writing program, search no further: The Ramped-Up Read Aloud delivers a formula for literacy development and joy in equal parts.

"Do you want to know what you should read next? Read this book to find out!" -- Back cover.

Literacy stations should be more than just busy work. Simply Stations: Partner Reading shows how to ensure that kids are purposefully and effectively practicing comprehension, deeper thinking, vocabulary, and communication skills every day. Here’s everything you need to plan, teach, and refresh the Partner Reading station year-round, including… Step-by-step instructions for launching and maintaining the station; Whole-group lesson plans, based on key literacy standards, to introduce and support partner work; Printable teacher and student tools; On-the-spot assessment ideas and troubleshooting tips; Lists of grade-level specific materials; and Countless real-classroom photos so you see the possibilities first-hand.