Stenhouse Newslinks
January 13, 2005
C O N T E N T S
1) PD Corner: An eye on adolescent literacy
2) Confessions of a textbook editor
3) Writers Workshop at Chautauqua registration is open
4) Teaching Tolerance
5) Stenhouse authors in the news
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1) PD Corner: An eye on adolescent literacy
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*January Quote of the Month*
"Who knows what book you'll be reading one year, two years, or
twenty years from today? But there is a good chance that you're
already on the path toward that book. It is up to us to place our
students on their own reading paths."
--Kelly Gallagher, from his book, Deeper Reading: Comprehending
Challenging Texts, 4-12; browse the entire text on-line at
http://www.stenhouse.com/0384.asp?r=n62
Legislators in Washington, D.C. and in statehouses throughout the
country are turning a new, critical eye on adolescent literacy
instruction. Just yesterday, President Bush launched a campaign to
expand many elements of the No Child Left Behind Act to high
schools (see http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05013/441440.stm).
If your school or district is also considering how to build teen
reading skills, the following resources might be helpful.
The Alliance for Excellent Education has been at the forefront in
advocating research-based adolescent literacy practices. "The
Fifteen Key Elements of Effective Adolescent Literacy Programs" is
a succinct summary of what needs to be in place in schools:
http://www.all4ed.org/publications/ReadingNext/Fifteen.html
(See the end of this issue of Newslinks for more information on
the Alliance's full report.)
The American Library Association has a series of quick tip sheets
for teachers, librarians, and parents to encourage teen reading,
as well as an interest survey to use with adolescents:
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/teenreading/tipsenc/tipsencourage.htm
If you are looking at investing in more library resources, a fine
guide to recent titles that interest reluctant adolescent readers
is available from the Young Adult Library Services Association
(YALSA). The lists are updated annually:
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
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2) Confessions of a textbook editor
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"A few years ago, I got an assignment from a development house to
write a lesson on a particular reading skill. The freelance editor
sent me the corresponding lessons from our client's three major
competitors. 'Here's what the other companies are doing,' she told
me. 'Cover everything they do, only better.' I had to laugh: I had
written (for other development houses) all three of the lessons I
was competing with."
Have you ever wondered how those massive textbooks for kids are
really written? The November issue of Edutopia features a
horrifying first-person account from a veteran literacy textbook
writer:
http://glef.org/magazine/ed1article.php?id=art_1195&issue=nov_04
Educators can get a free subscription to Edutopia Magazine:
Check out other free resources on Edutopia's Web site, including
nine teaching and professional development modules:
http://glef.org/foundation/courseware.php
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3) Writers Workshop at Chautauqua registration is open
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The 21st annual weeklong Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop at
Chautauqua is being held July 16 through July 23. This highly-
acclaimed conference in western New York includes powerful whole-
group seminars, compelling small workshops, intensive one-on-one
sessions, and a host of informal activities to put writers in
close touch with many mentors. This year's faculty includes
Carolyn Coman and Pam Munoz Ryan.
Register by February 15 for a substantial discount on the tuition:
http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/pages/current/chautauqua_top.html
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4) Teaching Tolerance
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The Teaching Tolerance Magazine Web site has dozens of free on-
line activities that promote respect for differences and
appreciation of diversity. Many of these activities are
particularly timely as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day approaches:
http://www.tolerance.org/teach/activities/index.jsp
Educators can subscribe to the magazine and obtain multimedia
curriculum kits for free:
http://www.tolerance.org/teach/resources/index.jsp
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5) Stenhouse authors in the news
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***Janet Allen, author of six Stenhouse titles including Tools for
Teaching Content Literacy, recently celebrated the publication of
her new picture book, Best Little Wingman (Boyds Mills Press). If
you would like to see how to launch a new book in style, follow
this link to a full report of the event:
http://www.smartwriters.com/index.2ts?page=swjdec2004#launch
For more information about Best Little Wingman:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/159078197X
***Cris Tovani, author of Do I Really Have to Teach Reading?,
participated in the release of Reading Next, a report from the
Alliance for Excellent Education that presents a vision for
improving middle and high school literacy achievement. Hear Cris
speak at the Alliance's December 14 briefing on Capitol Hill:
http://www.all4ed.org/publications/ReadingNext/HillEvent.html
(Click on the "Cris Tovani" link halfway down the page to listen
to the audio.)
You can download the full text of the report here:
http://www.all4ed.org/publications/ReadingNext/
***Nick Flynn, co-author of A Note Slipped Under the Door, has
sold the movie rights to his critically acclaimed novel:
http://snipurl.com/bsnightmovie
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