Stenhouse Newslinks
April 6, 2007
C O N T E N T S
1) Travel with your students through time
2) PD Corner: Taking the fear out of teaching poetry
3) Sneak a peek at new DVDs from Debbie Diller & Jeff Anderson
4) The dark side of phonics readers
5) Rejuvenate your practice at an institute this summer
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1) Travel with your students through time
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"In order for students to make an imaginative leap into the lives
of generations long gone, they need to hear the voices of people
as witnessed in their letters, diaries, newspapers, speeches, and
autobiographies."
You can make the study of history exciting by placing students in
the shoes of ordinary people who lived in a state of suspense
through tense times. In her new book Eyewitness to the Past, Joan
Brodsky Schur presents strategies that help students imaginatively
live through past events in U.S. history using six types of
primary sources.
This practical book emphasizes using documents that represent
multiple views and can serve as models for student writing and
oral argument. Activities draw on critical thinking skills, demand
that students formulate ideas and opinions and express them in
writing, and encourage debate. Students begin to take on the
excited voices of impassioned citizens who had tough choices to
make rather than the monotone voices of students answering rote
questions.
Eyewitness to the Past is shipping now. Browse the entire text
online:
http://www.stenhouse.com/0497.asp?r=n109
Eyewitness to the Past: Strategies for Teaching American History
in Grades 5-12 * Joan Brodsky Schur * Foreword by James A. Percoco
250 pp/paper * $20.00 * Available now
http://www.stenhouse.com/0497.asp?r=n109
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2) PD Corner: Taking the fear out of teaching poetry
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"The poet's voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be
one of the props, the pillars to help him endure and prevail."
--William Faulkner
Should poetry be reserved for one month out of the year? Hardly!
If you would like to implement poetry across the curriculum and
calendar explore these resources.
Poetryclass.net aims to "take the fear out of teaching poetry."
Developed by the London-based Poetry Society, this site delivers
inspiration and practical ideas for infusing poetry in everyday
lessons:
http://www.poetryclass.net
Want to support students as they build background knowledge about
poetry? Design an Internet scavenger hunt: ask students to find a
poet or an interesting poem on a particular subject and then send
them searching. Consider this "News Hour Extra" site from PBS as a
jumping-off point:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/poetry/
Former Poet Laureate Billy Collins designed Poetry 180: A Poem a
Day for American High Schools. Selections range from classic to
contemporary, and are perfect for a three- to five-minute daily
read aloud. Read a few for yourself:
http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/p180-list.html
You'll find 30 ways to celebrate National Poetry Month, a library
of over 100 audio clips and 2,000 poems, and more at the Academy
of American Poets website:
"http://www.poets.org/"
And browse Stenhouse's collection of professional books on
teaching and sharing poetry:
http://www.stenhouse.com/rdstenpoetry.htm
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3) Sneak a peek at new DVDs from Debbie Diller & Jeff Anderson
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We've just posted details and sample clips for two forthcoming
DVDs slated for release in June. The Craft of Grammar by Jeff
Anderson will help teachers of intermediate and adolescent writers
find new and engaging ways to connect the writing process with
grammar and mechanics:
http://www.stenhouse.com/0476.asp?r=n109
And Stepping Up with Literacy Stations by Debbie Diller will guide
teachers through the process of designing and implementing
literacy work stations in grades three and higher:
http://www.stenhouse.com/0475.asp?r=n109
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4) The dark side of phonics readers
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"I am an experienced elementary teacher and college professor,
with a long-standing disdain for 'ability' grouping, dummied-down
curriculum, and stupid, phonics-driven stories that make no sense.
And yet here I was, seemingly unable to prevent my own child from
being crushed by a scripted reading program of the type so beloved
by No Child Left Behind."
Read the rest of Melanie Quinn's essay, "I Just Want to Read Frog
and Toad," in the current issue of Rethinking Schools:
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/21_03/frog213.shtml
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5) Rejuvenate your practice at an institute this summer
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Looking for a way to recharge your batteries and take your
teaching to the next level? Check out this wide-ranging collection
of summer institutes and workshops, many featuring Stenhouse
authors.
Choice Literacy Workshop Series for K-6 Literacy Leaders
June through October * 5 locations
This series is presented by Stenhouse authors Jennifer Allen, The
Sisters (Gail Boushey & Joan Moser), Andie Cunningham, Brenda
Power, Ruth Shagoury, Franki Sibberson, and Karen Szymusiak.
Topics are: Becoming a Literacy Coach, Assessing Young Readers,
Designing Reading & Writing Workshops for ELLs (Pre-K through
Grade 2), and Supporting 3-6 Readers & Writers.
http://www.choiceliteracy.com/public/department22.cfm
Georgia Conference on Writing and Reading
June 12 & 13 * Perry, Georgia
Speakers include Stenhouse authors Jeff Anderson, Harvey Daniels,
Debbie Diller, Ralph Fletcher, Kelly Gallagher, and The Sisters
(Gail Boushey & Joan Moser).
http://www.dodgelearning.com/
Mid-South Reading and Writing Institute
June 22 & 23 * Birmingham, Alabama
Speakers include Anne Goudvis, The Sisters, Jeff Anderson, and
Debbie Diller.
http://www.lexami.com/2007midsouth.htm
Responsive Classroom Week-Long Institutes
June through August * 34 locations in 16 states
The Responsive Classroom is an approach to teaching and learning
that fosters safe, challenging, and joyful classrooms and schools
(K-8). Practical strategies bring together social and academic
learning throughout the school day. Week-long institutes provide
an immersion experience in Responsive Classroom practices, with
grade-specific groups of 20 to 30 teachers.
http://www.responsiveclassroom.org/prodevelop/weeklonginst.html
Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop
July 14-21 * Chautauqua, New York
This highly-acclaimed conference includes powerful whole-group
seminars, small workshops, one-on-one sessions, and a host of
informal activities to put writers in close touch with many
mentors. This year's faculty includes authors Bruce Coville and
Joy Cowley.
http://www.stenhouse.com/rdchautauqua07.htm
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