I’ve been dipping into a couple of professional books lately. I don’t always read these cover to cover. Sometimes I do, but often I just open and read a chapter , paragraph, a section.
I’ve been thinking about reading of course, but also about being a better writing teacher. I am fascinated by the National Writing Project and I often think I’d like to do the Oregon Writing Project. One book I’ perusing these days is
It was published in 2003, but still has lots of interesting things to say about writing and the teaching of writing:
..all students can learn to write and that writing is the most visible expression not only of what their students know but also of how well they have learned it.”
“A key element in such systemic change is finding a core group of teachers who write and are enthusiastic about teaching it.”
“…teacher qualifications account for 40 percent of the difference in overall student performance and that teacher quality is more powerful than a student’s socioeconomic background in student learning.”
There is a lot more in there. I just need the time to dig more deeply.
I’ve waited a while for Donalyn Miller’s new book
Here is her essential question: How can we encourage our students to become independent readers after they leave our class? It mass me wish I was back in the library or teaching middle school Language Arts again.Reading in the Wild is a companion to Miller’s previous book, The Book Whisperer. It explores whether or not we are truly instilling lifelong reading habits in our students and provides practical strategies for teaching “wild” reading.
If your new year’s resolution is to make some sort of change in your professional practice, either or both of these would be excellent resources to help you on your journey.
booksandbassets 