“I want to hear laughter. Humor is essential! I want to see writing displayed on the walls that reflects what kids do at that age. Instead of typing up correct (standard) first grade stories, put stories on the walls written in their own handwriting, in their own zany spellings.”
Here is a quick roundup of some reviews of Stenhouse books we came across recently in the blogosphere:
Metaphors & Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching Any Subject by Rick Wormeli: “Metaphors and Analogies provides an excellent starting point for understanding the promise and pitfalls of these important devices, and I would encourage you to explore Wormeli’s book for yourself. In the spirit of its title, it truly is a buffet for the hungry mind,” writes blogger Patrick Woessner on Technology in the Middle.
Keith Schoch at How to Teach a Novel, is also enthusiastic about Rick’s latest: “His work, however, is so far the most practical title I’ve seen on the topic, offering teachers simple steps for improving their instruction through the use of metaphors and analogies. Every page provides subject-specific examples, allowing readers to easily understand the real-life applications to the classroom.”
Small Group Intervention (DVD) by Linda Dorn and Carla Soffos: “As I am building more interest in staff development and literacy leadership, I especially enjoyed this resource. I look forward to eventually sharing the DVD with others to support literacy instruction development,” says Mrs. V at Snapshots of Mrs. V.
A Place for Wonder: Reading and Writing Nonfiction in the Primary Grades by Georgia Heard and Jennifer McDonough: Sarah Amick over at Amick’s Articles gives a thumbs-up for Georgia Heard’s latest book: “She seems to understand the plight that we are all in this topsyturvy world of assessment driven instruction. And yet, she doesn’t stray from the fact that our youngest learners need to be held in their world of wonder, that that world need not be taken away from their early in their learning. She understands that school can be a place where children are dumped information into their little minds instead of discovering it for themselves.”
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In an in-depth interview on A Year of Reading blog, Patrick Allen talks about his new book, Conferring: The Keystone of Reader’s Workshop. He tells Stenhouse author and blogger Franki Sibberson about the origins of his book and about what he hopes teachers will take away from it.
“A lot of Conferring is about the journey I went through as I tried to change some of my beliefs and to enhance my instruction. I hope that as people read the book, they’ll understand that like all great learning, learning to confer takes time, energy, and practice, but it’s well-worth the effort! My own journey has made conferring the keystone of my reader’s workshop.”
Several fellow bloggers have written about Stenhouse books in the past couple of weeks. Here is a taste of what they said about the books and how they use them in their classrooms:
At A Year of Reading Franki Sibberson, Stenhouse author and blogger, wrote a review of Jennifer Allen’s new book, A Sense of Belonging. Franki recounts her mentor at the beginning of her teaching career: “She treated me as a colleague–a colleague who she enjoyed working with–from Day One. But more important was the fact that she got to know me as a person.” Don’t forget to join our Ning book study group that will begin discussing Jen’s book Sept. 17.
Another review of Jen’s book is at She’s the Apple of my Eye, where mother-daughter teachers Dayle and Courtney blog about Courtney’s first year of teaching.
Ruth Ayres from The Two Writing Teachers read and reviewed Liz Hale’s book, Crafting Writers. “I started reading and was soon totally immersed in the book and the work Elizabeth was describing,” Ruth writes.
Sarah Amick from Amick’s Articles wrote about The Daily Five and The Cafe Book, both by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser, “The Sisters.” She recommends reading The Daily Five first and gives a chapter by chapter overview of TheCafe Book.
Amanda from Snapshots of Mrs. V read Jeff Anderson’s book Mechanically Inclined over the summer. “Initially, I thought that there would not be a whole lot new as far as background information. I wanted the book for the additional lesson ideas; however, there actually was a lot of additional information as well,” writes Amanda.
Two teacher-bloggers found inspiration this week from the second edition of Beyond Leveled Books by Franki Sibberson, Karen Szymusiak, and Lisa Koch.
“After reading the foreword, the list of mini lessons, and the first chapter I knew that I had much to gain from this book,” writes Sarah Amick at Amick’s Articles in her review of Beyond Leveled Books. The book “draws you in during the first chapter as they persuade you to move away from the bookroom, away from the prepublished books from your basal, and to really evaluate the books you are placing in the hands of your children,” Sarah continues.
Stacey Shubitz at Two Writing Teachers attended a session by the authors of Beyond Leveled Books during last week’s NCTE. Franki Sibberson and Karen Szymusiak were joined by Cris Tovani (I Read It, but I Don’t Get It and Do I Really Have to Teach Reading?) and Patrick Allen (Put Thinking to the Test) to discuss authentic assessment in reading workshop. Stacey writes that she will be able to connect what she learned to her writing workshop and shares how she will change her lesson charts to empower her students as writers. “I now think there’s a sense of agency we can create in our young writers by using a statement in the first-person as opposed to the third person,” she writes and gives the example of her upcoming persuasive letter writing unit of study chart to demonstrate the power of and importance of the language used in the classroom.
“Ann Marie is all about the “whys” of her teaching,” Franki writes. ”She understands the theory behind all that she does and her book helps us think through our own writing workshops. She also spends a lot of time talking about the issues she has with mandated curriculum and the importance of workshop. But she also gives us some nuts and bolts. She shows us her yearlong plan and then goes into depth with each unit of study—sharing book titles and planning that goes into each unit.”
Read the entire review here. And also be sure to check out Franki’s new book, the second edition of Beyond Leveled Books.
Angela Maiers, educational consultant, talked with Debbie Miller on her blog recently about the transition from the classroom into the consulting world, lesson plan designs, and the importance for teachers to develop a sense of agency in their classrooms.
Several fellow bloggers commented about Debbie’s new book, Teaching with Intention. After reading the book, Ms. Lux asked herself what her ideal classroom would look like. Ms. Teacher browsed the book for strategies she can implement in her own classroom. Marisa over at Living the Life of A Reader and Writer wishes she had read the book as a beginner teacher. And finally Dayle, at Timmons Times found that clearing the clutter in a classroom can help to clear the mind as well.
“I spent several hours poring over the format of Beyond Leveled Books (Second Edition). The introduction to this book will knock your socks off. It is titled, “My Son Clark Kent”, by Lisa Koch (also a contributing author for the second edition of Beyond Leveled Books)…. I believe this piece about Koch’s son, Alec, is a must read for every reading teacher in the world!! Just as important, it is the perfect introduction for the theme of this book — let’s look at more than just leveled books when we’re trying to match a reader with a book. Let’s get to know our readers as more than just a level number or letter.”
Debbie Miller’s new book, Teaching with Intention, reminded Dayle Timmons, a primary inclusion teacher in Florida and 2004 Florida Teacher of the Year, to “trust myself – to not lose sight of my intentions while I am trying to fit everything in. She reminds me to teach deeply and well and to ‘nix the juggling act.’ This book was like having a cup a coffee with my favorite teacher friend and leaving our conversation with a smile on my face!”