Teaching Language And Literature In Elementary Classrooms

The goal of this book -- a theoretically based, well-organized, useful guide for teaching -- is to help the beginning teacher create a classroom environment that integrates literacy development with learning in all areas of the curriculum. The major components of an integrated language program are identified, and the skills teachers need to implement this kind of program in their own classrooms are described. Designed to be kept and used as a resource in the classroom, this text provides fundamental information about language arts teaching. A constructivist orientation, an emphasis on teachers as reflective decision makers, and vivid portrayals of the classroom as a community of learners and inquirers are woven throughout the book. Key features include: * a wealth of models, suggestions, and step-by-step guidelines for introducing integrated teaching and learning practices into elementary classrooms at the kindergarten, primary, and intermediate levels; * a focus on relevant research in language arts and professional teacher development; * true-to-life classroom narratives that model instructional strategies and demonstrate interactions between real teachers and students; and * an innovative chapter format that makes the text accessible as a resource for student, beginning, and experienced teachers.

Demonstrating the power of teaching global literature from a critical literacy perspective, this book explores the ways that K-6 educators can infuse diverse texts into their classrooms and find support for their endeavours in teacher inquiry communities. Through carefully analyzed, ethnographically informed portraits of classroom life alternating with teachers’ own accounts of their teaching and learning experiences, it demonstrates how students are moved to question, debate, and take action in response to global texts. This multi-vocal work both emerges from and responds to tensions and debates related to the purpose and practice of literature education in a time of Common Core State Standards.

This collection of papers examines the relationship between the teaching of language and the teaching of literature to non-native students. The book attempts to identify key theoretical issues and principles as a basis for further discussion.

Field-tested and backed by sound research, this popular methods book provides readers with a broad background in language arts, including assessment and instruction in the major areas of speaking, listening, writing, and reading. Thoroughly encompassing the 'back-to-basics' movement and the trend toward literature-based instruction, it offers clearly developed methodologies and lessons, and makes extensive use of children's actual language samples to illustrate ways literature can enhance the development of language arts skills. Written by an award-winning author, the book focuses on material that embraces the needs of all learners: linguistically-different children, multicultural children, and children with learning disabilities and handicaps. Emphasizing the importance of literature-based strategies and the identification of literature that can be applied to each of the language arts, it offers 'For Your Plan Book', a special section at the end of most chapters which provides concrete ideas, field-tested lessons and unit plans teachers can take right into their classroom. Literature chapters are now moved to the forefront of the book, enabling instructors to place a greater emphasis on literature-related language arts. Strong methodologies in the composition chapters now encompass the writing process, plus results of a five-year composition study of the relationships between writing and literature. Public school educators, parents in home schooling, and library personnel.

Teaching English by the Book is about putting great books, wonderful poems and rich texts at the heart of English teaching, transforming children’s attitudes to reading and writing and having a positive impact on learning. It offers a practical approach to teaching a text-based curriculum, full of strategies and ideas that are immediately useable in the classroom. Written by James Clements, teacher, researcher, writer, and creator of shakespeareandmore.com, Teaching English by the Book provides effective ideas for enthusing children about literature, poetry and picturebooks. It offers techniques and activities to teach grammar, punctuation and spelling, provides support and guidance on planning lessons and units for meaningful learning, and shows how to bring texts to life through drama and the use of multimedia and film texts. Teaching English by the Book is for all teachers who aspire to use great books to introduce children to ideas beyond their own experience, encounter concepts that have never occurred to them before, to hear and read beautiful language, and experience what it’s like to lose themselves in a story, developing a genuine love of English that will stay with them forever.

CD-ROM provides video segments and accompanying text wihich illustrate methods of using literature circles to teach literature in an 8th grade classroom.

"Describing effective, creative strategies for talking with students in ways that enhance literacy learning, this book offers a window into the classrooms of four exemplary teachers. Principles of productive classroom discussions are illustrated with detailed case examples. The book shows how--and explains why--"real talk" can enhance student engagement, foster critical thinking, promote mastery of literacy concepts, and instill a lasting love of reading. It offers ideas for selecting children's literature and fitting a range of interactive literacy activities into the school day. The authors draw on current knowledge about the connections between oral language and literacy development across the elementary grades"-- Provided by publisher.