Powerful Book Introductions - Softcover

Fay, Kathleen; Moritz, Chrisie; Whaley, Suzanne

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1625310501 ISBN 13: 9781625310507

Publisher: Routledge, 2017

Synopsis

Effective book introductions during guided reading set the stage for young readers to navigate new texts independently and successfully and often shape the outcome of small-group lessons. Many teachers struggle with decisions about what these introductions should address, what they should include, and how to conduct them.  
In Powerful Book Introductions literacy leaders Kathleen Fay, Chrisie Moritz, and Suzanne Whaley speak to these concerns by taking a close look at the purposeful planning that goes into preparing for this small but vital part of today’s guided reading lessons.
Through relatable classroom examples and the wisdom of their shared teaching experiences, the authors show you how to:

• select texts for your small-group lessons specifically based on your students’ needs
• amplify meaning-making from the first moments of your guided reading book introductions and maintain this emphasis
• introduce visual and structural information as a way to support your readers in meaning-making

No matter where you are in your understanding of guided reading, Powerful Book Introductions will help you as you learn to craft student-centered, meaning-driven book introductions that prepare your readers for success.
 

About this title

About the Author:

Kathleen Fay has served as a classroom teacher, Reading Recovery teacher, Title I resource teacher, and Literacy Collaborative Coach since beginning her teaching career in 1990. In her current role, as Literacy Collaborative District Trainer for Fairfax County Public Schools, Kathleen provides professional development to school based literacy coaches. The best part of her job is working alongside coaches and teachers in classrooms, engaging in authentic experiences with students.  

When Kathleen decided to become a teacher, her aunt, Pat Johnson, also a Stenhouse author, was her mentor. "During my first years of teaching, Pat and I would spend hours discussing how best to teach specific children and how to set up an engaging learning environment for reading and writing. Our relationship gradually changed from one of mentor/mentee to colleagues who think and learn together. Now this is the type of relationship I try to form with teachers and coaches." 

Kathleen believes that meaning is at the heart of most powerful learning experiences and students naturally work to understand.  She collaborated with Chrisie Moritz and Suzanne Whaley to write Powerful Book Introductions: Leading with Meaning to Promote Thinking to help teachers analyze texts and plan lessons where meaning is at the forefront of learning opportunities.   

Kathleen and Suzanne Whaley wrote their first book, Becoming One Community: Reading and Writing with English Language Learners (Stenhouse 2004), to support teachers who work in diverse communities and value every student as a full member of the community.  

Kathleen lives in Annandale, Virginia with her husband, Dan, and their two children, Willie and Charlotte. 

Chrisie Moritz is a National Board certified literacy coach in Fairfax County, Virginia where she teaches, facilitates professional development sessions, and coaches other educators.  She presents at conferences and consults with school districts across the country on various topics related to literacy instruction.  Chrisie has taught grades K-2 and served as a Reading Recovery teacher, Literacy Collaborative District Trainer, and adjunct professor at East Carolina University, where she earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. 

Chrisie believes that informed decision-making is at the heart of good teaching. When it comes to teaching reading, the more we learn about our students’ preferences, the reading process, and a wide variety of texts, the better equipped we become to make decisions that lead to continuous growth and a love of literacy. She collaborated with Kathleen Fay and Suzanne Whaley to write Powerful Book Introductions: Leading with Meaning to Promote Thinking as a tool to help teachers refine their decision-making when selecting texts and planning book introductions that keep meaning as the primary focus of reading for students.   

Chrisie lives in Vienna, Virginia with her husband Austin and their two kids, Aubrey and Tanner. 

Suzanne Whaley is a National Board certified teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia where she was a classroom teacher and literacy specialist for 22 years before working in central office. She currently leads the literacy professional development for reading specialists, principals, school teams, and teachers in her district. Suzanne has taught second through fifth grade and has been a reading specialist and Literacy Collaborative Coach in a vibrant Title I school. Suzanne believes in the power of being a student of the students, who are the richest source of data that any teacher has. Suzanne considers herself lucky to have spent her career surrounded by thoughtful and passionate professionals who have shaped her belief in developing a “thinking teacher” where the most powerful habits of mind are reflection and continuous growth. 

Suzanne strives to keep meaning at the heart of learning experiences for teachers as well as students.  She collaborated with Kathleen Fay and Chrisie Moritz to write Powerful Book Introductions: Leading with Meaning to Promote Thinking to help teachers analyze texts and plan lessons so that meaning making is at the forefront of students’ learning opportunities with books.  

Suzanne co-authored her first book, Becoming One Community: Reading and Writing with English Language Learners (Stenhouse 2004), with Kathleen Fay to support general education teachers who work in diverse communities and value every student as a full member of the community.  

Suzanne lives in Clifton, Virginia with her husband, Ben, and their daughter, Rachel.  

From School Library Journal:

Fay, Moritz, and Whaley offer elementary school teachers valuable tools to create book introductions that will support and improve guided reading. They stress that students' preconceptions about books and reading determine whether they'll persevere when encountering reading challenges, as well as their desire to read independently. Carefully crafted book introductions are key because they "work to shape thinking in powerful ways." Prior to introducing a book, teachers should select and analyze the text and then produce a statement, taking into account features such as vocabulary and language structure. Teachers must get to know their students and find texts that not only pique their interests but also meet their needs as readers. The authors believe that matching a child with the right book is the most important factor in cultivating successful readers, but they acknowledge that conducting extensive analysis of each book is impractical. Supplemented with additional resources and references, this is a comprehensive and strategic plan for improving the effectiveness of guided reading. VERDICT Recommended for primary grade classrooms, English language learners, and resource teachers who use guided reading.—Laura Fields Eason, Parker Bennett Curry Elementary School, Bowling Green, KY

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1625310501
• ISBN 13: 9781625310507
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 198