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
