The goal of Teaching Language and Literature in Elementary Classrooms: A Resource Book for Professional Development, Second Edition is to help the beginning teacher create a classroom environment that integrates literacy development with learning in all areas of the curriculum. Theoretically based, well organized, and practical, this text identifies the major components of an integrated language program and describes and illustrates skills teachers need to implement this kind of program in their own classrooms. It is uniquely designed as a handbook for beginning educators that serves both as a text and as a professional resource to be carried into the first year of teaching. The narratives in this text, and the accompanying instruction for preparing to teach, are included for every elementary instructional level. A consistent chapter format is used to help readers move from a direct experience of a classroom narrative, to step-by-step descriptions they can follow to implement these activities in their own classrooms. A rich array of interactive pedagogical features is provided. New in the Second Edition: This edition retains the purposes of the first edition, but adds ideas and information gathered over the years from new classroom observations. It also incorporates the results of the author's extensive reviews of educational research, continuous reading in all the genres of children's literature, and correspondence with faculty and students who used the first edition of this text. In response to these varied and helpful experiences, the Second Edition features: *Strategies for dealing with problems of disruption in the classroom; *Expanded discussions related to diversity and special needs; *Increased attention to methods of evaluation and mandated testing programs; *Reorganization of chapter sections to make them more useful to readers; *A new chapter on play and the fine arts; *Integration of electronic teaching technology into all chapters; *Extensive in-text annotations of children's literature, discussions of new titles in children's literature, cultural literatures, book clubs, series books, and the influence of books published internationally; *Updated reports of research and best practice studies; *New classroom observations; and *New appendices, designed to provide information and resources for instructional support.

The goal of Teaching Language and Literature in Elementary Classrooms: A Resource Book for Professional Development, Second Edition is to help the beginning teacher create a classroom environment that integrates literacy development with learning in all areas of the curriculum. Theoretically based, well organized, and practical, this text identifies the major components of an integrated language program and describes and illustrates skills teachers need to implement this kind of program in their own classrooms. It is uniquely designed as a handbook for beginning educators that serves both as a text and as a professional resource to be carried into the first year of teaching. The narratives in this text, and the accompanying instruction for preparing to teach, are included for every elementary instructional level. A consistent chapter format is used to help readers move from a direct experience of a classroom narrative, to step-by-step descriptions they can follow to implement these activities in their own classrooms. A rich array of interactive pedagogical features is provided. New in the Second Edition: This edition retains the purposes of the first edition, but adds ideas and information gathered over the years from new classroom observations. It also incorporates the results of the author's extensive reviews of educational research, continuous reading in all the genres of children's literature, and correspondence with faculty and students who used the first edition of this text. In response to these varied and helpful experiences, the Second Edition features: *Strategies for dealing with problems of disruption in the classroom; *Expanded discussions related to diversity and special needs; *Increased attention to methods of evaluation and mandated testing programs; *Reorganization of chapter sections to make them more useful to readers; *A new chapter on play and the fine arts; *Integration of electronic teaching technology into all chapters; *Extensive in-text annotations of children's literature, discussions of new titles in children's literature, cultural literatures, book clubs, series books, and the influence of books published internationally; *Updated reports of research and best practice studies; *New classroom observations; and *New appendices, designed to provide information and resources for instructional support.

"Learning Journals in the K-8 Classroom" is the first comprehensive presentation of how to use academic journals effectively for elementary-level instruction. The text outlines the theoretical foundations for using learning journals and provides step-by-step suggestions for implementing them in every content area and at all levels of elementary instruction.
Learning journals provide resources and support for reading aloud, independent reading, mini-lessons, cooperative study, individual research, workshops, and the portfolio system. The type of interactive writing students do in learning journals helps them explore complex ideas in the content areas, using their own strengths of analysis and response; the journals then become resources for future learning, group discussions, individual conferences, learning assessment, reports, and progress.
Four introductory chapters show teachers how to create their own journals, introduce journals to students, integrate them with cooperative study, and use them for assessment. Additional chapters focus on the individual curriculum areas of literature, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies. The text includes sample entries from student journals at all grade levels and in every content area, and appendices of annotated resources to support journaling and interviews with teachers who use journals in their classrooms.

Learning Journals in the K-8 Classroom is the first comprehensive presentation of how to use academic journals effectively for elementary-level instruction. The text outlines the theoretical foundations for using learning journals and provides step-by-step suggestions for implementing them in every content area and at all levels of elementary instruction. Learning journals provide resources and support for reading aloud, independent reading, mini-lessons, cooperative study, individual research, workshops, and the portfolio system. The type of interactive writing students do in learning journals helps them explore complex ideas in the content areas, using their own strengths of analysis and response; the journals then become resources for future learning, group discussions, individual conferences, learning assessment, reports, and progress. Four introductory chapters show teachers how to create their own journals, introduce journals to students, integrate them with cooperative study, and use them for assessment. Additional chapters focus on the individual curriculum areas of literature, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies. The text includes sample entries from student journals at all grade levels and in every content area, and appendices of annotated resources to support journaling and interviews with teachers who use journals in their classrooms.

Here is the story of Summerfield Grade School and Charles Kamm, a principal and teacher who devoted his entire professional career to this rural Illinois school. A modest man of quiet dignity, understated intelligence, wit, and gracious manner, Kamm communicated his principles and sense of purpose to those around him for 38 years. He created a school family, where each person was valued, and encouraged the development of a community family, where parents, grandparents, and citizens participated in the programs and activities of the school. This book is not intended to be a nostalgic walk down memory lane but rather an illustration of what is possible when principles guide administrative decision-making. Although Kamm's career as a teacher and principal came to a close in the 1990s, the basic principles of thought and behavior that directed his practice are timeless in their application. Schools, teachers, communities, and legal mandates change, but the core ideals of successful human relationships remain the same. An Afterword outlines current research related to the nurturing principal, and describes the legacy left to Summerfield School by Mr. Kamm.