The Level 1 Biff, Chip and Kipper Stories, written by Roderick Hunt and illustrated by Alex Brychta, provide both wordless stories and a rich story context to help develop language comprehension and decoding skills with simple first words and sentences. Wordless Stories A and Wordless Stories B introduce the characters and children learn that the pictures tell a story, where a story begins and how to turn the pages. First Words and More First Words introduce children to simple words and the characters' names. Books contain inside cover notes to support children in their reading. Help with childrens reading development is also available at www.oxfordowl.co.uk.

The Level 2 Biff, Chip and Kipper Stories, written by Roderick Hunt and illustrated by Alex Brychta, provide a rich story context to help develop language comprehension and decoding skills. Stories, More Stories A and More Stories B offer a predictable sentence structure to support reading success. First Sentences provide practice of high frequency vocabulary with highly repetitive text to continue to build fluency. Patterned Stories and More Patterned Stories A practise vocabulary in the context of a repeated sentence structure to help develop confidence and fluency. Books contain inside cover notes to support children in their reading. Help with childrens reading development is also available at www.oxfordowl.co.uk.

More than 670,000 middle school teachers (grades 6-8) are responsible for educating nearly 13 million students in public and private schools. Thousands more teachers join these ranks annually, especially in the South and West, where ethnic populations are ballooning. Teachers and administrators seek practical, time-efficient ways of teaching language arts to 21st-century adolescents in increasingly multicultural, technologically diverse, socially networked communities. They seek sound understanding, practical advice, and proven strategies in order to connect diverse literature to 21st-century societies while meeting state and professional standards like the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. This book offers strategies and resources that work.

The perspectives of children, teachers and professional writers are often absent in the pedagogy of writing. Writing Voices: Creating Communities of Writers responds to such silent voices and offers a text which not only stretches across primary and secondary practice, but also gives expression to these voices, making a new and significant contribution to understanding what it means to be a writer.

Drawing upon recent research projects undertaken by the authors and others in the international research community, this fascinating text considers the nature of composing and the experience of being a writer. In the process it:

• explores the role of talk, creativity, autonomy, metacognition, writing as design and the shaping influence of literature and other texts;
• examines young people 's composing processes and attitudes to writing;
• considers teachers identities as writers and what can be learnt when teachers engage reflectively in writing;
• shares a range of professional writers practices, processes and perspectives;
• gives prominence to examples of writing from children, teachers, student teachers and professional writers alongside their reflective commentaries.

This thought-provoking text offers theoretical insights and practical directions for developing the teaching and learning of writing. It is an invaluable read for all teachers and trainees, as well as teacher educators, researchers and anyone with an interest in the pedagogy of writing.

Grammar for the Well-Trained Mind: Red Workbook, along with the accompanying Key and the Core Instructor Text, make up a full year of Grammar for the Well-Trained Mind: a complete course that takes students from basic definitions ("A noun is the name of a person, place, thing, or idea") through advanced sentence structure and analysis-all the grammar skills needed to write and speak with eloquence and confidence. This innovative program combines the three essential elements of language learning: understanding and memorizing rules (prescriptive teaching), repeated exposure to examples of how those rules are used (descriptive instruction), and practice using those rules in exercises and in writing (practical experience). Each year, parents and teachers go through the dialogue, rules, and examples in the Core Instructor Text; students follow along in the Workbook. This repetition solidifies the concepts, definitions, and examples in the student's mind. There are four non-sequential Workbooks. Students can pick up any of the Workbooks and follow along. Each Workbook contains the same rules and examples-but four completely different sets of exercises and assignments, allowing students to develop a wide-ranging knowledge of how the rules and examples are put to use in writing. The Red Workbook comes with its own Key, providing not only answers, but also explanations for the parent/instructor, and guidance as to when the answers might be ambiguous (as, in English, they often are). All of the rules covered, along with the repeated examples for each, are assembled for ongoing reference in the Comprehensive Handbook of Rules. This will become the student's indispensable guide to writing through high school, into college and beyond. Step-by-step instruction takes students from the most basic concepts through advanced grammatical concepts such as modal and hortative verbs and multiple functions of noun clauses. Extensive diagramming exercises reinforce the rules and help technical and visual learners to understand and use the English language effectively. Each step of the diagramming process is illustrated and thoroughly explained to the student. Text for examples and exercises are drawn from great works of literature, as well as from well-written nonfiction texts in science, mathematics, and the social sciences. Regular review is built into each year of work. The first of four non-sequential workbooks, each containing new exercises that allow students to practice and apply the grammar principles under study.

In recent years, educators have become increasingly concerned about the writing skills of students in elementary, middle, and high school. They wonder what can be done to build proper writing skills, particularly in a generation of students who may consider text messaging to be the only writing a person needs to do. Extreme Writing describes how teachers can build upon the eagerness and skills that students apply to recreational, social, and friendly writing, bringing enjoyment back into writing for students. The Extreme Writing approach is not a precise formula for student achievement; rather, it is a shared discovery of the process, the adventure, the wonder, and the liberation inherent in writing.

In Reading Researchers in Search of Common Ground, Second Edition, Rona F. Flippo revisits her groundbreaking Expert Study, in which she set out to find common ground among experts in the much-fragmented field of reading research. The original edition, featuring contributions from participants in the Expert Study, commentary from additional distinguished literacy scholars with specialized experiences and vantage points from which to view it, and recommendations for use of its findings, was published in 2001 and has become a classic in the field. The Expert Study's findings and discussions related to it remain provocative, viable, and highly relevant. Taking a fresh look at it, and its current implications for literacy education and common ground in light of the newest thinking and research of today, the Second Edition includes four new chapters from leaders in the field who discuss the Study from their unique vantage points (literacy trends, emergent writing development, a comprehensive literacy curriculum, and a comparative analysis of the study's findings and recommendations). It is a must-read resource for the entire literacy community ? researchers, teacher educators, graduate students, administrators, practitioners, and policymakers.

The perspectives of children, teachers and professional writers are often absent in the pedagogy of writing. Highly Commended for the UKLA Academic Book Award 2013, Writing Voices: Creating Communities of Writers responds to such silent voices and offers a text which not only stretches across primary and secondary practice, but also gives expression to these voices, making a new and significant contribution to understanding what it means to be a writer.

Drawing upon recent research projects undertaken by the authors and others in the international research community, this fascinating text considers the nature of composing and the experience of being a writer. In the process it:

• explores the role of talk, creativity, autonomy, metacognition, writing as design and the shaping influence of literature and other texts;
• examines young people s composing processes and attitudes to writing;
• considers teachers identities as writers and what can be learnt when teachers engage reflectively in writing;
• shares a range of professional writers practices, processes and perspectives;
• gives prominence to examples of writing from children, teachers, student teachers and professional writers alongside their reflective commentaries.

This thought-provoking text offers theoretical insights and practical directions for developing the teaching and learning of writing. It is an invaluable read for all teachers and trainees, as well as teacher educators, researchers and anyone with an interest in the pedagogy of writing.

Originating in a recent CIERA conference held at the University of Michigan, this book brings together the nation's most distinguished researchers to examine how readers understand text and how comprehension is assessed. The first part provides both national and historical contexts for the study of reading comprehension. The second part examines how vocabulary, motivation, and expertise influence comprehension, and it includes analyses of the developmental course and correlates of comprehension. Chapters in the third part consider how schools focus on comprehension for instruction and assessment. The fourth part includes chapters on large-scale assessment that analyze how test formats and psychometric characteristics influence measures of reading comprehension. At the end of each part is a commentary--written by an expert--that reviews the chapters, critiques the main points, and synthesizes critical issues. Key features of this outstanding new book include: *Integration of Research and Practice--provides a bridge between conceptual issues studied by researchers concerned with reading comprehension theories and practical issues addressed by educators concerned with classroom instruction and assessment. *Comprehension Focus--provides a thorough history and rigorous research-based analyses of reading comprehension. *Assessment Focus--provides innovative approaches to comprehension assessment that include the influences of vocabulary, decoding, and motivation. *Synthetic Commentaries--provides periodic summaries that analyze and synthesize research, practices, and issues discussed in each part. *Expertise--contributing authors and commentators are highly respected authorities on reading comprehension (see table of contents). This text is appropriate for educational and psychological researchers, reading educators, and graduate students in education and psychology. It is part of the CIERA series, which includes the following volumes: Taylor and Pearson: Teaching Reading: Effective Schools, Accomplished Teachers (2002) Van Kleeck, Stahl, and Bauer: On Reading Books to Children: Parents and Teachers (2003) Hoffman and Schallert: The Texts in Elementary Classrooms (2005)

Brain-Friendly Strategies for Developing Student Writing Skills, Second Edition, offers teachers proven success tools for nurturing the writer in every student. These effective writing strategies are based on the five core propositions of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and the six features of effective instruction identified by the National Research Center on English Learning Achievement. Presented in a user-friendly format by a veteran language arts teacher and staff developer, this resource shows educators how to create a classroom environment that promotes writing across the curriculum while meeting the demands of district and national standards. The practical strategies, activities, classroom stories, student examples, and reflections in this book provide teachers with a comprehensive roadmap to developing confident and competent young writers. This revised edition includes a section on the learning brain, which provides information to help teachers share with their students how the amazing brain learns.

From the creator of the hugely popular Vocabulary Ninja comes an essential handbook of strategies and photocopiable resources to supercharge primary pupils and transform them into little comprehension ninjas! Comprehension Ninja for Ages 5-6 presents 24 high-quality non-fiction texts and photocopiable activities with strong links to the National Curriculum to help embed reading skills in the primary classroom. With accompanying question sets that challenge pupils to effectively skim, scan and retrieve information and improve their subject knowledge, this practical guide features theory and teaching approaches that can be applied to any curriculum area. As well as improving their comprehension skills, Comprehension Ninja for Ages 5-6 provides excellent SATs practice for every child and covers topics from good friends and firefighting to the seven continents of the world. If you're searching for an exciting way to bring comprehension more firmly into your primary setting using strategies and question types such as true or false, labelling, matching, highlighting, filling in the gap, sequencing and multiple choice, look no further than Comprehension Ninja for Ages 5-6.

Inviting teachers back to the role of reflective advocates for thoughtful reading instruction, this book presents theory and pedagogical possibilities to reclaim and build upon the knowledge base that was growing when government mandates, scripted commercial programs, and high stakes tests took over as the dominant agenda for reading instruction in U.S. public schools. Focusing on literacy learners? and their teachers? lives as literate souls, it examines how the teaching of reading can be reclaimed via an intensive reconsideration of five pillars as central to the teaching and learning of reading: learning, teaching, curriculum, language, and sociocultural contexts.

Reclaiming Reading articulates the knowledge base that was marginalized or disrupted by legislated and policy intrusions into classrooms and provides practical examples for taking good reading instruction out of the cracks and moving it back to the center of the classroom. Explaining what happens in readers? minds as they read and how teachers can design practices to support that process, this book encourages teachers to initiate pedagogy that will help them begin or return to the stance of reflective, knowledgeable, professional decision-makers.

Inviting teachers back to the role of reflective advocates for thoughtful reading instruction, this book presents theory and pedagogical possibilities to reclaim and build upon the knowledge base that was growing when government mandates, scripted commercial programs, and high stakes tests took over as the dominant agenda for reading instruction in U.S. public schools. Focusing on literacy learners and their teachers lives as literate souls, it examines how the teaching of reading can be reclaimed via an intensive reconsideration of five pillars as central to the teaching and learning of reading: learning, teaching, curriculum, language, and sociocultural contexts.

Reclaiming Reading articulates the knowledge base that was marginalized or disrupted by legislated and policy intrusions into classrooms and provides practical examples for taking good reading instruction out of the cracks and moving it back to the center of the classroom. Explaining what happens in readers minds as they read and how teachers can design practices to support that process, this book encourages teachers to initiate pedagogy that will help them begin or return to the stance of reflective, knowledgeable, professional decision-makers.

More than 670,000 middle school teachers (grades 6-8) are responsible for educating nearly 13 million students in public and private schools. Thousands more teachers join these ranks annually, especially in the South and West, where ethnic populations are ballooning. Teachers and administrators seek practical, time-efficient ways of teaching language arts to 21st-century adolescents in increasingly multicultural, technologically diverse, socially networked communities. They seek sound understanding, practical advice, and proven strategies in order to connect diverse literature to 21st-century societies while meeting state and professional standards like the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. This book offers strategies and resources that work.

In the 21st century, writing is more important than at any other time in human history. Yet much of the emphasis in schooling has been on reading, and after the early years, writing skills have been given less attention. Internationally, too many children are leaving school without the writing skills they need to succeed in life. The evidence indicates that students rarely develop proficiency as writers without effective teacher instruction. Teaching Writing offers a comprehensive approach for the middle years of schooling, when the groundwork should be laid for the demanding writing tasks of senior school and the workplace. Teaching Writing outlines evidence-based principles of writing instruction for upper primary students and young adolescents. It presents strategies that are ready for adoption or adaptation, and exemplars to assist with designing and implementing writing lessons across the middle years of school. It addresses writing from a multimodal perspective while also highlighting the importance of teaching linguistic aspects of text design such as sentence structure, vocabulary and spelling as foundations for meaning-making. Contributors argue that students need to continue to develop their skills in both handwriting and keyboarding. Examples of the teaching of writing across disciplines are presented through a range of vignettes. Strategies for assessing student writing and for supporting students with diverse needs are also explored. With contributions from leading literacy educators, Teaching Writing is an invaluable resource for primary, secondary and pre-service teachers.

Most children learn to read, irrespective of the method of instruction. Yet up to a fifth of children struggle with reading in their first few years at school. Unfortunately, those who struggle in the early years will continue to struggle throughout their school career. Yola Center offers a systematic, research-based guide to teaching reading in the first three years of school. Her aim is to ensure that teachers can work with at-risk or reluctant readers in the regular classroom as effectively as with children for whom reading seems to come naturally. Taking an analytic approach to reading, Beginning Reading shows how children can be moved through the key stages of early reading acquisition. Each chapter includes an overview of relevant research, practical classroom strategies and guidelines for lesson planning. Center adopts a balanced view of reading instruction, stressing the importance of phonological processes at the beginning of literacy instruction, as well as semantic and syntactic ones. This supports at risk children in regular classrooms, who are provided with the maximum opportunity to develop the accurate and fluent word recognition skills that are needed in order to extract meaning from print.

Written by trusted author Geoff Barton, this new edition of a classroom favourite has been completely rewritten to support the latest Key Stage 3 requirements. It includes clear progression through reading levels, with a focus on building essential reading skills through fresh, relevant texts from a range of media and a variety of engaging activities - an ideal resource for busy teachers.

A comprehensive blended print and digital English programme for Years 1 to 6, Oxford International Primary English offers a clear and coherent literacy and language course with inspiring and culturally diverse content that puts each child at the heart of the learning experience. For Primary Literacy teachers in International schools following the Cambridge, ENC or OIC curriculum, this course is underpinned by a strong digital offer. Oxford International Primary English Offers a flexible, forward-looking and engaging route through primary English based on international best practice, with coverage of a range of curricula and a strong focus on wellbeing to fully prepare children for their onward studies.

The Handbook of Reading Research is the research Handbook for the field. Each volume has come to define the field for the period of time it covers. Volume IV follows in this tradition. The editors extensively reviewed the reading research literature since the publication of Volume III in 2000, as portrayed in a wide array of research and practitioner-based journals and books, to identify the themes and topics covered. As in previous volumes, the focus is on reading research, rather than a range of literate practices. When taken as a set, the four volumes provide a definitive history of reading research. Volume IV brings the field authoritatively and comprehensively up-to-date.

This book contains practice for 16 word families. You get a 5-page reproducible unit for each word family containing: a picture dictionary to introduce the words, an engaging one-page story, comprehension and vocabulary activities, and a word list slider to practice reading for fluency.

My Reading and Writing Kit: Becoming a reader has been specially created to support your child's steps towards becoming an independent reader and writer. Based on Ruth Miskin's trusted and successful Read Write Inc. synthetic phonics programme, it helps your child to read longer sentences and stories and practise writing a growing range of words. This kit develops confidence in learning further sounds and essential handwriting skills, helping your child to progress with phonics at school. This is the third kit in the series, but each kit can also be used on its own. The kit includes: six storybooks with introductions to share with your child; phonics flashcards to help encourage children to learn the next set of sounds that make up words; handwriting book providing practice writing the words featured in the storybooks and flashcards; parent handbook offering practical advice for supporting your child's developing reading and writing skills. Read Write Inc., developed by Ruth Miskin, provides a structured and systematic approach to teaching literacy. It is used by more than a quarter of the UK's primary schools and is designed to create fluent readers, confident speakers and willing writers.

This new edition of Read Write Inc. Fresh Start rescues pupils aged 9 and above who are below age-related expectations, using a phonics-based approach. Read Write Inc. Fresh Start gives older pupils who have not yet cracked the 'code of reading' the chance to catch up and become confident, fluent readers and writers - enabling them to access the secondary curriculum. The Modules are specially written to help students to catch up on and develop their reading and writing skills, featuring engaging age-appropriate texts that are appealing to all students. Each Module contains a fiction or non-fiction text and a range of step-by-step writing and comprehension activities to build skills and confidence. Sounds and graphemes taught during the phonics lessons are reinforced through further practice in the Modules.