In Focus: Literacy Coaching Meet Dr. Sharon Walpole, Instructional Coordinator for the homegrown RISE program (Reading Initiative for Student Excellence) as she works with teachers and students at Johnson Elementary in Charlottesville, VA. Sustained, systematic professional development for teachers and a real sense of collaboration are key to student success, Dr. Walpole says. Watch Spelling Patterns video clip > Many school districts have adopted literacy coaching as a model for teachers' professional development. Visit with the literacy coach at Ephesus Elementary School in Chapel Hill, N.C., and learn more about best practices for coach training and evaluating your school's coaching program. Read article > In a recent study, six teachers who had received the same literacy coaching demonstrated four levels of knowledge. Typically, these teachers would receive additional training as if they were all on the same page of music. We have embraced the concept of diversity of learners among our students — it's time to embrace the same diversity among our teachers. Read article >
Classroom Strategies Reader's Theater is a strategy for developing reading fluency and confidence. Students dive into oral reading by reading and re-reading parts in scripts. The best Reader's Theater scripts include lots of inventive dialogue that gives kids the opportunity to read aloud with expression. Go to strategy > Browse our Classroom Strategy Library for more techniques to improve students' fluency, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and writing.
Books & Authors Earth's moon has inspired folktales, literature, and — of course — real-life exploration. July marks the anniversary of the first moonwalk, and we're celebrating with this stellar collection of fiction and nonfiction books, for adventurous kids 0-9 years old. Browse booklist > From cloud forests to the deep sea floor, Sneed Collard's nonfiction books invite kids to discover the natural world and the creatures that make it their home. World travel and first-hand research allow Collard to fill his books with colorful details. Science is life — "pick up a science book and use that to teach literacy," he says. Reading to your toddler is one of the best ways to boost language skills. Here are 12 tips to help make sure your toddler gets a head start on reading. Read article >
For Parents As summer shifts into its hazy, hot and humid self, kids get bored and parents get frustrated. Great Schools offers parents some advice for establishing routines and managing the transition from school to summer. Go to website > Looking to cool off inside? Introduce your young reader to one of the websites described within this article. Some sites will be familiar to you, but others may be brand new! Go to website >
For Teachers Don't let the simple landing page from WordSift fool you — sites that enable users to visualize text have great classroom applications. View the demo to watch two wonderful applications of WordSift technology for the classroom. Go to website > Our friends at Choice Literacy shared a link to the National Writing Project's 30 Ideas for Teaching Writing. Each idea comes from teachers who share an example of how the idea improved their students' writing. Go to website >
Research & News A new report from the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) summarizes the latest facts, figures, and information about individuals with learning disabilities in the U.S. The report details legal protections for people with LD, the RTI multi-tier approach to early identification and support, LD beyond school, and much more. Read report > The latest Best Evidence Encyclopedia (BEE) review summarizes evidence on six types of programs designed to improve the reading achievement of children having difficulty in learning to read, including one-to-one tutoring, small group, classroom practices, and instructional technology. Read review >
Community The Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL) promotes the adoption of research-based literacy learning practices by early childhood practitioners, parents, and other caregivers of young children, especially those with learning difficulties. CELL is asking for your thoughts on their new Parent Practice Guides. If you'd like to help, please visit the CELL website to view the guides and offer feedback. Go to guides >
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