Language Arts Essentials

This new book from the leading name in literacy and language arts has been crafted to provide concise, critical information for teaching the language arts, backed by the most current and applicable research available.  The “essentials” format gives teachers the information they need in a price- and time-conscious way.  Language Arts Essentials will provide inservice teachers with the needed background information and strategies as they further their professional development.   Written by leading Language Arts author Gail Tompkins, this book is: Concise, research driven, critical information for the language arts.  Very Applied - The book is divided into six parts, with each part covering the essentials, strategies, and classroom practices appropriate to the topic.  A BRAND NEW BOOK - not just chapters of her big book. Written from the ground up to be an essentials book.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Part 1: Teaching Language Arts Today INTRODUCTION CLASSROOM CLOSE-UP Mrs. Miller-McColm Teachers Language Arts ESSENTIALS Essential #1: The 6 Language Arts Essential #2: The Instructional Approaches STRATEGIES What is the Strategy? Language Arts Strategies Skills Are Important, Too! What About Teaching Strategies and Skills? CLASSROOM PRACTICES What's the Relationship of Language and Learning? The Goal of Language Arts Instruction Students Today: Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Critical Literacy: Using Language for Social Action A is for Authentic REVIEW The Big Ideas Classroom Inquiry Part 2: Listening INTRODUCTION CLASSROOM CLOSE-UP Second Graders Listen to Cook-A-Doodle-Doo! ESSENTIALS Essential #1: The Listening Process Essential #2: Purposes for Listening STRATEGIES Listening Strategies Minilessons CLASSROOM PRACTICES Interactive Read-Alouds: Getting Students Engaged in Listening Learning to "Do" School: Ways to Improve Students' Efferent Listening Developing A Critical Ear Does Anyone Assess Listening REVIEW The Big ideas Classroom Inquiry Part 3: Talking INTRODUCTION CLASSROOM CLOSE-UP Third Graders Participate in Literature Circles ESSENTIALS Essential #1: Small Group Conversations Essential #2: Levels of Questions STRATEGIES Talk Strategies Minilessons CLASSROOM PRACTICES: Academic Language: A Key to School Success Talking About Stories in Grand Conversations Instructional Conversations: Using Talk to Learn Retelling Stories to Check Comprehension KWL Charts: Building Knowledge Through Talk The Power of Drama REVIEW The Big Ideas Classroom Inquiry Part 4: Reading INTRODUCTION CLASSROOM CLOSE-UP Fifth Graders Read and Respond to Number the Stars ESSENTIALS Essential #1: THe Reading Process Essential #2: Comprehension Essential #3: Literature Genres STRATEGIES Reading Strategies Minilessons CLASSROOM PRACTICE The Language Experience Approach Responding to Literature DEveloping Students' Concept of Story Learning to REad Informational Books Nurturing Children's Love of Poetry REVIEW The Big Ideas Classroom Inquiry Part 5: Writing INTRODUCTION CLASSROOM CLOSE-UP Mrs. Harris's Poetry Workshop ESSENTIALS Essential #1: Types of Journals Essnetial #2: The Writing Process Essential #3: Writing Genres STRATEGIES Writing Strategies Minilessons CLASSROOM PRACTICE Never Too Young To Write: Emergent Writers in Action Simulated Journals and Letters How To Write a Story Creating Multigenre Projects Becoming a Poet Rubrics: Teaching and Assessing Writing REVIEW The Big Ideas Classroom Inquiry Part 6: Language Study INTRODUCTION CLASSROOM CLOSE-UP Mr. Martinez Individualizes Spelling Instruction ESSENTIALS Essential #1: Stages of Spelling Development Essential #2: Words and Their Meanings Essential #3: Grammar Concepts STRATEGIES Spelling Strategies Vocabulary Strategies Grammar Strategies Minilessons CLASSROOM PRACTICE Teaching Students to Spell How to Analyze Students' Spelling Development The Story of English Word Smarts Why Teach Grammar? Let's Play Sentence Games! REVIEW The Big Ideas Classroom Inquiry PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES CHILDREN'S BOOK REFERENCES    

About the Author :
Gail E. Tompkins is Professor Emerita at California State Unversity, Fresno, and she continues to direct the San Joaquin Valley Writing Project.  She regularly works with teachers in their kindergarten through eighth-grade classrooms and leads staff development programs on reading, language arts, and writing.  In 1998 Dr. Tompkins was inducted into the California Reading Association's Reading Hall of Fame in recognition of her publication and other accomplishments in the field of reading, and recently she was awarded the prestigious Provost's Award for Excellence in Teaching at California's State University, Fresno.

Review :
"The idea of pruning the language arts down to the essentials is brilliant, as most language arts textbooks these days are getting too cumbersome." Bonnie Armbruster, University of Illinois   "I like the organization. I like how it moves from authentic, real classroom experiences to the meat on why teaching is important and why assessment should play a role in the teaching of skills. I would not rearrange anything." Debra Price, Sam Houston State University   "I think the author is on the right track. Areas are covered in an approach that works for presenting a view of the essentials. For preservice teachers, this would make an appropriate book for a site-based language arts course where students spend less time in class and more in practicum experience in real elementary classrooms."  Cindy Wilson, Southwest Missouri State University