There's a Writer in Our House! Strategies for Supporting and Encouraging Young Writers and Readers at Home


Book Description

There’s a Writer in Our House! is an invitation to parents of children in first grade through fifth grade interested in actively participating in their children’s early literacy learning from the very first steps. Founded upon well-researched literacy instructional methods that have been informed by the author’s clinical perspective as well as her years of experience with many kinds of learners, this book provides a valuable understanding of how both writing and reading contribute to child development in multiple areas. Chapters provide background concepts regarding grammar and specific critical thinking skills in both writing and reading as well as customizable, child-centered activities used to practice and build writing and reading comprehension skills. You will learn how to advance and encourage your child’s learning and communication skills by highlighting important literacy areas such as vocabulary development, background knowledge, and critical thinking. You will also learn to recognize and track the significant developmental achievements of your child as you proceed from the early to the more complex At-Home activities, as well as receive strategies for how to respond and give feedback in specific situations, such as when a child writes something that makes sense to the child but not to the parent, how to offer feedback that identifies and labels a child’s strengths, and how to collaborate effectively with a child who is just developing new interests or a new willingness to try something that previously seemed “hard.” Practical, accessible, and most importantly, fun, this book is a must-read for all parents, regardless of background, seeking to support their children’s ongoing literacy development confidently and effectively.




There's a Writer in Our House!


Book Description

"There's a Writer in Our House! is an invitation to parents of children in first grade through fifth grade interested in actively participating in their children's early literacy learning from the very first steps. Founded upon well-researched literacy instructional methods that have been informed by the author's clinical perspective as well as her years of experience with many kinds of learners, this book provides a valuable understanding of how both writing and reading contribute to child development in multiple areas. Chapters provide background concepts regarding grammar and specific critical thinking skills in both writing and reading as well as customizable, child-centered activities used to practice and build writing and reading comprehension skills. You will learn how to advance and encourage your child's learning and communication skills by highlighting important literacy areas such as vocabulary development, background knowledge, and critical thinking. You will also learn to recognize and track the significant developmental achievements of your child as you proceed from the early to the more complex At-Home activities, as well as receive strategies for how to respond and give feedback in specific situations, such as when a child writes something that makes sense to the child but not to the parent, how to offer feedback that identifies and labels a child's strengths, and how to collaborate effectively with a child who is just developing new interests or a new willingness to try something that previously seemed "hard." Practical, accessible, and most importantly, fun, this book is a must read for all parents, regardless of background, seeking to support their children's ongoing literacy development confidently and effectively"--




Woman's Home Companion


Book Description




Look Both Ways


Book Description

"A collection of ten short stories that all take place in the same day about kids walking home from school"--







How to Teach Poetry Writing at Key Stage 3


Book Description

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.




Mastering Writing at Greater Depth


Book Description

To master the teaching of writing at greater depth, teachers first need to know: *What makes writing ′greater depth′? *What does it looks like? *How do I support children to develop the skills and creativity to be able to write at ′greater depth′? Official guidance lacks the substance and clarity that is needed so where do teachers go for support? This book provides teachers with support, guidance, background theory, examples and practical advice for the teaching of writing at greater depth. The text highlights the need to take writing beyond transcription into creative composition - and not only shows how this is possible, but also explores why it matters. The second edition is updated with new questions for discussion supporting teacher professional learning and links to the ITT Core Content Framework for trainee teachers.







The Multiple Menu Model


Book Description

Based on constructivist learning theory, The Multiple Menu Model presents six practical menus that guide curriculum developers as they bring together an understanding of a discipline, its content and methodologies, and a vast array of instructional techniques. Teachers have successfully used this approach to challenge learners on all levels and make learning more meaningful, relevant, and engaging. The Knowledge Menu aids educators as they locate a topic in the realm of knowledge, uncover the basic principles and concepts, and explore the methodology used by practicing professionals in the field. The Instructional Objectives and Student Activities Menu helps teachers address issues of balance between content and process objectives as they write curriculum. The Instructional Strategies Menu reminds educators of the wide range of teaching strategies they can use within a lesson or unit. The Instructional Sequences Menu helps educators organize and sequence a unit or lesson to maximize impact and outcomes. The Artistic Modification Menu encourages teachers to inject the curriculum with their own creative contributions, such as personal stories, collected memorabilia, and hobby materials. The Instructional Product Menu presents the outcomes of learning experiences. Using the six menus, step-by-step planning guides, and reproducible templates, curriculum developers can: challenge all students with opportunities for higher level learning; place a premium on organization and pursuit of authentic knowledge; use real-world investigative skills in the classroom; blend advanced content and higher level thinking processes; teach enduring concepts and principles instead of trendy topics and transitory information; focus on representative topics that are used as a vehicle for process development; inject personal stories, experiences, and realia into lessons to heighten motivation and engage imagination; differentiate lessons to meet the needs of all students; and engage students in pursuing topics of their own personal interest and producing authentic products of their own choosing. Teachers using the Multiple Menu Model provide challenging curriculum opportunities for all students and guidance for exploring and applying knowledge in the real world.




Big Red Tequila


Book Description

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series Everything in Texas is bigger . . . even murder. Meet Tres Navarre—tequila drinker, Tai Chi master, and unlicensed P.I., with a penchant for Texas-size trouble. Jackson “Tres” Navarre and his enchilada-eating cat, Robert Johnson, pull into San Antonio and find nothing waiting but trouble. Ten years ago Navarre left town and the memory of his father’s murder behind him. Now he’s back, looking for answers. Yet the more Tres digs, trying to put his suspicions to rest, the fresher the decade-old crime looks: Mafia connections, construction site payoffs, and slick politicians’ games all conspire to ruin his homecoming. It’s obvious Tres has stirred up a hornet’s nest of trouble. He gets attacked, shot at, run over by a big blue Thunderbird—and his old girlfriend, the one he wants back, is missing. Tres has to rescue the woman, nail his father’s murderer, and get the hell out of Dodge before mob-style Texas justice catches up to him. The chances of staying alive looked better for the defenders of the Alamo. “Riordan writes so well about the people and topography of his Texas hometown that he quickly marks the territory as his own.”—Chicago Tribune Don’t miss any of these hotter-than-Texas-chili Tres Navarre novels: BIG RED TEQUILA • THE WIDOWER’S TWO-STEP • THE LAST KING OF TEXAS • THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO AUSTIN • SOUTHTOWN • MISSION ROAD • REBEL ISLAND