This book takes on a daunting task: How do writing teachers continue to work toward preparing students for academic and real-world communication situations, while faced with the increasing use of standardized high-stakes testing? Teachers need both the technical ability to deal with this reality and the ideological means to critique the information technologies and assessment methods that are transforming the writing classroom.
"Teaching and Evaluating Writing in the Age of Computers and High-Stakes Testing" serves this dual need by offering a theoretical framework, actual case studies, and practical methods for evaluating student writing. By examining issues in writing assessment--ranging from the development of electronic portfolios to the impact of state-wide, standards-based assessment methods on secondary and post-secondary courses--this book discovers four situated techniques of authentic assessment that are already in use at a number of locales throughout the United States. These techniquesstress:
*"interacting" with students as communicators using synchronous and asynchronous environments;
*"describing" the processes and products of student learning rather than enumerating deficits;
*"situating" pedagogy and evaluation within systems that incorporate rather than exclude local variables; and
*"distributing" assessment among diverse audiences.
By advocating for a flexible system of communication-based assessment in computer-mediated writing instruction, this book validates teachers' and students' experiences with writing and also acknowledges the real-world weight of the new writing components on the SAT and ACT, as well as on state-mandated standardizedwriting and proficiency exams.

This book takes on a daunting task: How do writing teachers continue to work toward preparing students for academic and real-world communication situations, while faced with the increasing use of standardized high-stakes testing? Teachers need both the technical ability to deal with this reality and the ideological means to critique the information technologies and assessment methods that are transforming the writing classroom.
"Teaching and Evaluating Writing in the Age of Computers and High-Stakes Testing" serves this dual need by offering a theoretical framework, actual case studies, and practical methods for evaluating student writing. By examining issues in writing assessment--ranging from the development of electronic portfolios to the impact of state-wide, standards-based assessment methods on secondary and post-secondary courses--this book discovers four situated techniques of authentic assessment that are already in use at a number of locales throughout the United States. These techniquesstress:
*"interacting" with students as communicators using synchronous and asynchronous environments;
*"describing" the processes and products of student learning rather than enumerating deficits;
*"situating" pedagogy and evaluation within systems that incorporate rather than exclude local variables; and
*"distributing" assessment among diverse audiences.
By advocating for a flexible system of communication-based assessment in computer-mediated writing instruction, this book validates teachers' and students' experiences with writing and also acknowledges the real-world weight of the new writing components on the SAT and ACT, as well as on state-mandated standardizedwriting and proficiency exams.

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)

The benefits and importance of Socratic seminars are widely recognized, but little has been written on "how" to make them happen successfully in the classroom. By offering real-world examples and straightforward answers to frequent questions, Matt Copeland has created a coaching guide for both the teacher new to Socratic seminars and the experienced teacher seeking to optimize the benefits of this powerful strategy. "Socratic Circles" also shows teachers who are familiar with literature circles the many ways in which these two practices complement and extend each other.

Effectively implemented, Socratic seminars enhance reading comprehension, listening and speaking skills, and build better classroom community and conflict resolution skills. By giving students ownership over the classroom discussion around texts, they become more independent and motivated learners. Ultimately, because there is a direct relationship between the level of participation and the richness of the experience, Socratic seminars teach students to take responsibility for the quality of their own learning.

Filled with examples to help readers visualize the application of these concepts in practice, "Socratic Circles "includes transcripts of student dialogue and work samples of preparation and follow-up activities. The helpful appendices offer ready-to-copy handouts and examples, and suggested selections of text that connect to major literary works.

As our classrooms and our schools grow increasingly focused on meeting high standards and differentiating instruction for a wide variety of student needs and learning styles, Socratic seminars offer an essential classroom tool for meeting these goals." Socratic Circles" is a complete and practical guide to Socratic seminars for the busy classroom teacher.

For those who truly wish to leave no child behind, the racial achievement gap in literacy is one of the most difficult issues in education today, and nowhere does it manifest itself more perniciously than in the case of black adolescent males.

Approaching the problem from the inside, Alfred Tatum brings together his various experiences as a black male student, middle school teacher working with struggling black male readers, reading specialist in an urban elementary school, and staff developer in classrooms across the nation. His new book," Teaching Reading to Black Adolescent Males "offers teachers and schools a way to reconceptualize literacy instruction for those who need it most.

Alfred bridges the connections among theory, instruction, and professional development to create a roadmap for better literacy achievement. He presents practical suggestions for providing reading strategy instruction and assessment that is explicit, meaningful, and culturally responsive, as well as guidelines for selecting and discussing nonfiction and fiction texts with black males.

The author's first-hand insights provide middle school and high school teachers, reading specialists, and administrators with new perspectives to help schools move collectively toward the essential goal of literacy achievement for all.

This is an edited book based on papers presented at a 2003 invitee-only conference under the sponsorship of the Merrill Advanced Studies Center of the University of Kansas. The participants were prominent scholars in the areas of language and reading, and have research programs funded by NIH and other sources. The purpose of the gathering was to discuss theoretical issues and research findings concerning the relationship between developmental language and reading disabilities, specifically looking at neurological, behavioral, and genetic factors. In addition, it discussed other factors contributing to reading difficulties in the middle elementary school years through adolescence and literacy outcomes for children with early language impairments, and how these problems relate to children with dyslexia. The Foreword is written by Reid Lyon, Branch Chief, Child Development and Behavior Branch, NICHD-National Institutes of Health.
This book appeals to scholars in the areas of language disorders and reading disabilities, as well as to practicing speech-language pathologists, special educators, and reading specialists. It may also be used in graduate courses designed as seminars in either language disorders or reading disabilities in schools of communication disorders, as well as schools of education--especially special education departments.

This is an edited book based on papers presented at a 2003 invitee-only conference under the sponsorship of the Merrill Advanced Studies Center of the University of Kansas. The participants were prominent scholars in the areas of language and reading, and have research programs funded by NIH and other sources. The purpose of the gathering was to discuss theoretical issues and research findings concerning the relationship between developmental language and reading disabilities, specifically looking at neurological, behavioral, and genetic factors. In addition, it discussed other factors contributing to reading difficulties in the middle elementary school years through adolescence and literacy outcomes for children with early language impairments, and how these problems relate to children with dyslexia. The Foreword is written by Reid Lyon, Branch Chief, Child Development and Behavior Branch, NICHD-National Institutes of Health.
This book appeals to scholars in the areas of language disorders and reading disabilities, as well as to practicing speech-language pathologists, special educators, and reading specialists. It may also be used in graduate courses designed as seminars in either language disorders or reading disabilities in schools of communication disorders, as well as schools of education--especially special education departments.

Research from the special education community provides an resource that can influence instruction for students with disabilities, as well as other students at risk for reading difficulties. This special issue features the work of four researchers and their teams who have contributed to this research base.

Sylvia Edwards' book concentrates on enhancing the spelling skills of the pupils whom you support; analyzing how you can develop their spelling skills, offering advise and guidance on a variety of learning styles, and a breakdown of spelling principles.

Wilson and Scanlon focus on enhancing the reading skills of the pupils whom you support, analyzing how you can develop their skills, offering advise and guidance on a variety of learning styles and a breakdown of reading principles.

Focusing on enhancing the writing skills of the pupils whom you support, Sylvia Edwards analyzes how you can develop their skills, offers advise and guidance on a variety of learning styles and a breakdown of writing principles.

Presenting a powerful and stimulating approach to writing, "Location Writing" allows children to escape the confines of the classroom and develop written responses to their environment. The book features: activities covering prose, poetry, non-fiction and faction; examples of written work by both children and professional writers; detailed lesson plans and ideas; advice on establishing writers' trails; cross-curricular links; and lists of resources and suggestions for location writing around the UK.

Nelson Comprehension provides a simple and effective course for the teaching of key comprehension skills. Units cover all genres of texts - including fiction, poetry, playscripts, instructions and biography - with plenty of practice, repetition and assessment built in. Differentiated questions and resource sheets as well as assessment materials help ensure that all children are on track. This Pupil Book offers 30 engaging illlustrated texts with accompanying differentiated questions which test the whole range of comprehension skills, including literal, inferential and deductive.

Primary-grade teachers face an important challenge: teaching children how to read while enabling them to build good habits so they fall in love with reading. Many teachers find the independent reading workshop to be the component of reading instruction that meets this challenge because it makes it possible to teach the reading skills and strategies children need and guides them toward independence, intention, and joy as readers.

In "Growing Readers," Kathy Collins helps teachers plan for independent reading workshops in their own classrooms. She describes the structure of the independent reading workshop and other components of a balanced literacy program that work together to ensure young students grow into strong, well-rounded readers. Kathy outlines a sequence of possible units of study for a yearlong curriculum. Chapters are devoted to the individual units of study and include a sample curriculum as well as examples of mini-lessons and reading conferences. There are also four "Getting Ready" sections that suggest some behind-the-scenes work teachers can do to prepare for the units. Topics explored in these units include: print and comprehension strategies;reading in genres such as poetry and nonfiction;connecting in-school reading and out-of-school reading;developing the strategies and habits of lifelong readers.

A series of planning sheets and management tips are presented throughout to help ensure smooth implementation.

We want our students to learn to read, and we want them to love to read. To do this we need to lay a foundation on which children build rich and purposeful reading lives that extend beyond the school day. The ideas found in "Growing Readers" create thekind of primary classrooms where that happens.

Self-Acceptance, Anti-Racism, and Affirmations for Teens #1 New Release in Teen & Young Adult Social Activist Biographies "M.J. Fievre is the best friend, the confidante everyone yearns for."-Mike, the Poet, author of Dear Woman and The Boyfriend Book From the bestselling author of Badass Black Girl comes a much-needed space for Black teens and kids to say "I am enough." In this self-acceptance guidebook for teen boys, be empowered by 52 weeks of Black self-love and anti-racism lessons, affirmations for positive thinking, and prompts for Black Boy Joy. A Black male handbook for self-care. Black & Resilient includes prompts for teens to reflect and divulge what they're feeling on a deeper level. It comes with mind-strengthening affirmations for teens, stories of truth and power, and practices to teach Black teen boys how to stay empowered despite what life throws at them. This Black confidence book is a catalyst for change and healing to enter the heart and spirit of Black teens everywhere. Part of the Bold & Black series for Black self-love and antiracism. The Bold & Black series is specifically designed to help Black teens create a safe space to be themselves. The world often forgets that Black boys also need affirmations and words of empowerment to get through the day. Black & Resilient seeks to give Black teens the space to heal, find Black Boy Joy, and become empowered to walk boldly in their everyday lives. Inside, you'll find: Instruction for gaining perspective, freedom, and power in the face of macro- and microaggressions A safe place to acknowledge how racism affects you and create coping strategies to combat it Encouragement for living your best life as a BIPOC person with self-acceptance and confidence If you liked Black confidence and anti-racism books for boys like This Book is Anti-Racist Journal, Cry Like a Man, or 39 Lessons for Black Boys & Girls, you'll be empowered by Black & Resilient.

Teaching students how to write more effectively is a goal that English teachers of all levels share. How can you motivate your students to produce their best writing, think critically, and participate more actively in class? How can you conduct workshops in your classroom that create a more dynamic, interactive, student-centered environment? This practical, comprehensive guide to teaching writing offers English teachers a variety of new, classroom-tested instructional activities, workshops, lesson plans, journal entries, teaching strategies, and creative assignments to use in their classrooms, including modified mini-lessons and group discussions that engage students and stimulate critical thinking. Emphasizing the proven benefits of cooperative learning, the book includes step-by-step instructions for special writing workshops on invention strategies, critical reading, thesis statements, draft feedback, narrative writing, debates, outlining, introductions, proofreading and editing, and much more. Additional topics include how to coach students, manage problematic students, attack plagiarism, and deal with student evaluations.

This book provides teachers of children at Key Stages 1 and 2 with a much-needed source of exciting and creative drama-based activities, designed to improve literacy. As useful for the drama novice as for the busy literacy co-ordinator, these flexible activities are designed to help teachers meet National Curriculum and National Literacy Strategy (NLS) requirements, particularly through speaking and listening.
The book is divided into three parts:

Part 1 looks at literacy and the power of drama as a 'brain-friendly' medium for teaching and learning.
Part 2 contains ten structured, practical units of work, each based on a different story, poem, play or traditional tale or rhyme and each linked directly to the requirements and objectives of the NLS and the QCA objectives for speaking and listening.
Part 3 contains photocopiable Literacy Support Sheets for teachers to use and adapt for their own classroom needs.

All units of work have been tried and tested by the authors, giving teachers a springboard from which to enhance and extend their literacy lessons, and engage the imagination of their pupils. The book is also the ideal resource for student teachers.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203166981

"Spelltrack" is a practical approach to spelling, developed to help children who have specific difficulties with phoneme awareness, segmenting, blending and phoneme-letter correspondences. It helps to maintain a systematic progression through the process of learning to read and spell.
This book presents activities using tracking techniques to help those learners who have particular difficulty in memorizing high frequency words. By circling (tracking) each letter in one continuous movement, at the same time as saying the letter name, the learner is using visual and kinesthetic senses as well as learning the phonic components of the word. Writing out the spelling from memory, saying the letter names or mnemonic as he or she does so, provides reinforcement of correct letter formation and good handwriting.
The workbook focuses on helping children to learn 'tricky' words that are not phonically regular. Words in common everyday sequences have been included too, to give learners confidence with these words as quickly as possible.
Using Spelltrack activities can help children to scan a line of type effectively, improving reading, letter recognition and discrimination skills; correct problems of left-to-right directionality, omissions and reversals; improve visual recognition, matching and selecting; improve graphic knowledge and phoneme/graphic correspondence; work on fine motor control; consolidate phonic skills and early spelling strategies; and learn proofreading skills.

How to Teach Poetry Writing at Key Stage 3 is a practical manual for teachers, to be used directly in the classroom. The book begins with a series of poetry games designed to warm up creativity and strengthen the imagination. These are followed by a series of creative poetry workshops, based on the writer's own experience both as a teacher and poet running workshops in schools, which focus on developing a 'poetry base' for young writers. This imaginative base provides a range of poetic techniques and gives pupils experience in developing a repertoire of different forms. The book also offers advice on how to organize an effective workshop, and demonstrates how to teach poetry writing in a dynamic, creative and imaginative way in relationship with the KS3 national framework. Pie Corbett also provides useful advice on working with visiting poets in school, addresses for relevant web-sites, a list of books for follow-up work and a glossary of poetic forms and techniques. Workshops include writing from first hand observation; autobiography - valuing our lives; writing about paintings, sculpture and music; surreal boxes and the bag of words; secrets, lies, wishes and dreams; creating images, taking word snapshots; riddles - hiding the truth; and red wheelbarrows and messages for mice.

In this new collection of 100 essays curated by The New York Times, students will find mentor texts written by their peers-13-to-18-year-olds-on a wide range of topics, including social media, race, video games, lockdown drills, immigration, tackle football, and the #MeToo movement. All of the essays were either winners or runners-up from The New York Times Learning Network 2014-2019 Student Editorial contests, in which students could take on any issue they liked and, in 450 words or fewer, persuade readers-including educators from around the country as well as Times judges-to adopt their point of view. The essays have been selected for their voice, style, and use of evidence, as well as to present snapshot of issues across a dozen categories that are of particular interest to adolescents. Student Voice is also available as a package with Raising Student Voice: 35 Ways to Help Students Write Better Argument Essays, from The New York Times Learning Network, a teacher's companion guide packed with practical advice from teachers, Times editors, and even student winners about how to use these essays in writing instruction.

The next 10 Tippie adventures are proudly South-African, interesting and builds on the skills acquired in the Level 1 books. The text is supported by colourful, engaging illustrations to support comprehension and practise short vowel sounds and simple consonant clusters. Tippie learns and explores alongside his friends whilst staying true to typical child development. These sequential reading books were designed with a focus on sound development, linking sounds and letters as well as continuing building success and self-confidence in reading. The Level 2 books still focus on short vowels, simple consonants, sight words and final position consonant clusters. Children will love Tippie’s latest adventures as it is full of fun and humorous incidents along the way.

Children's achievements in writing lag behind their achievements in reading, speaking and listening. National tests are beginning to expose this gap and inevitably, it is raising concerns. The issue is not without controversy but regardless of the politics of the situation, national progress in children's writing is both needed and possible.
This new book from Eve Bearne makes a valuable contribution towards helping teachers close this gap. Uniquely, it follows the structure of the National Literacy Strategy, whilst examining key areas such as bridging KS2 and KS3 writing, and writing skills beyond the Literacy Hour. Such a structure makes the book incredibly practical and easy to use, providing essential information for both practitioners and academics.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203167244

The role of the writing program administrator is one of diverse activities and challenges, and preparation for the position has traditionally come through performing the job itself. As a result, uninitiated WPAs often find themselves struggling to manage the various requirements and demands of the position, and even experienced WPAs often encounter situations on which they need advice. "The Writing Program Administrator's Resource" has been developed to address the needs of all WPAs, regardless of background or experience. It provides practical, applicable tools to effectively address the differing and sometimes competing roles in which WPAs find themselves.
Readers will find an invaluable collection of articles in this volume, addressing fundamental practices and issues encountered by WPAs in their workplace settings and focusing on the hows and whys of writing program administration. With formal preparation and training only now beginning to catch up to the very real needs of the WPA, this volume offers guidance and support from authoritative and experienced sources--educators who have established the definitions and standards of the position; who have run into obstacles and surmounted them; and who have not just survived but thrived in their roles as WPAs. Editors Stuart C. Brown and Theresa Enos contribute their own experience and bring together the voices of their colleagues to delineate the intellectual scope and practices of writing program administration as an emerging discipline. Established and esteemed leaders in the field offer insights, advice, and plans of action for the myriad scenarios encountered in the position, encouraging WPAs and helping them to realize that they often know more than they think they do.
This resource is required reading for the new WPA, and an essential reference for all who serve in the WPA role. As a guidebook for WPAs, it is destined to become a fixture on the desk of every educator involved with or interested in administrating writing programs, writing centers, and writing-across-the-curriculum efforts.

The role of the writing program administrator is one of diverse activities and challenges, and preparation for the position has traditionally come through performing the job itself. As a result, uninitiated WPAs often find themselves struggling to manage the various requirements and demands of the position, and even experienced WPAs often encounter situations on which they need advice. "The Writing Program Administrator's Resource" has been developed to address the needs of all WPAs, regardless of background or experience. It provides practical, applicable tools to effectively address the differing and sometimes competing roles in which WPAs find themselves.
Readers will find an invaluable collection of articles in this volume, addressing fundamental practices and issues encountered by WPAs in their workplace settings and focusing on the hows and whys of writing program administration. With formal preparation and training only now beginning to catch up to the very real needs of the WPA, this volume offers guidance and support from authoritative and experienced sources--educators who have established the definitions and standards of the position; who have run into obstacles and surmounted them; and who have not just survived but thrived in their roles as WPAs. Editors Stuart C. Brown and Theresa Enos contribute their own experience and bring together the voices of their colleagues to delineate the intellectual scope and practices of writing program administration as an emerging discipline. Established and esteemed leaders in the field offer insights, advice, and plans of action for the myriad scenarios encountered in the position, encouraging WPAs and helping them to realize that they often know more than they think they do.
This resource is required reading for the new WPA, and an essential reference for all who serve in the WPA role. As a guidebook for WPAs, it is destined to become a fixture on the desk of every educator involved with or interested in administrating writing programs, writing centers, and writing-across-the-curriculum efforts.