Stenhouse Newslinks
March 9, 2006
C O N T E N T S
1) Assessing & grading in the differentiated classroom
2) Visit our new and improved Web site!
3) PD Corner: Catching the fluency wave
4) Author Conversations: Debbie Diller, Part II
5) Complex reading comprehension lacking in high schools
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1) Assessing & grading in the differentiated classroom
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"Differentiation provides focus. It is a compelling, highly-
effective approach that is equal parts technical dexterity and
professional can-do attitude. That commitment to all students and
their learning extends to grading and assessment, and this point
is key: We commit to students and to sound grading practices."
--from Rick Wormeli's new book, Fair Isn't Always Equal
In a differentiated classroom, assessment guides practice. What
are the key principles of successful differentiated assessment?
How do grading practices affect how we differentiate instruction,
and vice-versa? In his new book, Rick Wormeli explores these and
many other questions about assessment and grading, and provides
practical advice on specifics including:
- tiering assessments;
- creating good test questions;
- ten approaches to avoid when differentiating assessment and
grading;
- burning grading issues such as "Record a Zero or a Sixty" and
grading late work;
- supporting a school-wide move toward successful grading and
assessment practices.
Fair Isn't Always Equal will be available in print later this
month, but you can browse the entire book on-line now:
http://www.stenhouse.com/0424.asp?r=n84
* Special for Newslinks subscribers *
Pre-order Fair Isn't Always Equal on our Web site by March 20 and
we'll waive the shipping charge (a $5 value!). Just enter the
discount code NL84 at the "Address" checkout screen.
Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessing and Grading in the
Differentiated Classroom * Rick Wormeli * 232 pp/paper * $23.00
http://www.stenhouse.com/0424.asp?r=n84
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2) Visit our new and improved Web site!
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We've just unveiled a completely new design for our Web site, and
posted details on all of our new spring titles including the full
text of four new books. We invite you to explore the new site now:
http://www.stenhouse.com/index.asp?r=n84
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3) PD Corner: Catching the fluency wave
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*March Quote of the Month*
"Ms. Washington would read to us every day after lunch, and her
voice was like ten different musical instruments. She could make
her voice go low and deep and strong like a tuba, or hop, hop, hop
quick and light like a flute. When she'd read, her voice wrapped
around my head and my heart, and it softened and lightened
everything up. It put a pain in my heart that felt good. When she
told stories it made me want to tell stories. I wanted to read
like her, so I could have that feeling anytime."
--Katherine Hannigan (excerpt from her book, Ida B)
Teachers have discovered a renewed interest in fluency over the
last decade, as researchers continue to note the strong ties
between reading and writing fluency and how essential fluency is
to literacy development. "A Focus on Fluency" is the Pacific
Regional Education Laboratory's comprehensive review of the
research base for fluency instruction:
http://www.prel.org/programs/rel/fluency.asp
Two new Stenhouse books from elementary teacher-authors offer
fresh takes on dilemmas teachers face in fluency instruction.
Students who struggle to read and write fluently often read and
write at a steady, painfully slow rate. One of the concepts Max
and Gayle Brand explore in their classrooms is the importance of
"short bursts"--brief, targeted reading and writing which pushes
students to read or write at a different rate, speeding up to
develop literacy stamina. You can read about the concept and the
lessons Max and Gayle have created for their students in Chapter 4
of their new book, Practical Fluency:
http://www.stenhouse.com/0410.asp?r=n84
(Click on the link for Chapter 4 under "Contents.")
Fluency isn't a concept students necessarily understand, let alone
monitor as they read. In "The Fluency Awareness Project," Jennifer
Allen worked with her colleagues to videotape and help students
analyze their own fluency over the year with peers, with the
children taking responsibility for setting goals and assessing
their growth over time. A description of the project and
assessment rubrics are available in Chapter 7 of her book,
Becoming a Literacy Leader:
http://www.stenhouse.com/0419.asp?r=n84
(Click on Chapter 7 under "Contents.")
Jennifer will also be presenting the project at the upcoming IRA
Annual Convention in her session, "The Fluency Project: Helping
Students Monitor and Develop Reading Fluency Skills in the
Intermediate Grades," on Tuesday, May 2nd from 12:30-1:30 at
McCormick Place, Room E270.
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4) Author Conversations: Debbie Diller, Part II
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Debbie Diller discusses how her most recent book, Practice with
Purpose, helps upper elementary teachers implement literacy work
stations:
http://www.stenhouse.com/html/videoconversations.htm
Get details about the book, including the full text of Chapter 1:
http://www.stenhouse.com/0395.asp?r=n84
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5) Complex reading comprehension lacking in high schools
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This recent article highlights a new study by the college testing
company ACT that suggests students who can read complex texts are
more likely to be ready for college:
"http://www.stenhouse.com/rdact.htm
Follow this link to download the entire ACT report, "Reading
Between the Lines":
http://www.act.org/path/policy/reports/reading.html
Here are several resources from Stenhouse authors Kelly Gallagher
and Cris Tovani that will help secondary teachers improve their
students' reading comprehension:
*By Kelly Gallagher*
Deeper Reading: Comprehending Challenging Texts, 4-12
http://www.stenhouse.com/0384.asp?r=n84
Building Adolescent Readers (Video)
DVD: http://www.stenhouse.com/0430.asp?r=n84
VHS: http://www.stenhouse.com/0421.asp?r=n84
*By Cris Tovani*
Do I Really Have to Teach Reading? Content Comprehension, Grades
6-12
http://www.stenhouse.com/0376.asp?r=n84
Comprehending Content: Reading Across the Curriculum, Grades 6-12
(Video)
http://www.stenhouse.com/0375.asp?r=n84
I Read It, but I Don't Get It: Comprehension Strategies for
Adolescent Readers
http://www.stenhouse.com/0089.asp?r=n84
Thoughtful Reading: Teaching Comprehension to Adolescents (Video)
http://www.stenhouse.com/0369.asp?r=n84
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Prices are subject to change without notice
