Developing Competent Readers and Writers in the Primary Grades

Table of Contents:
I. FOUNDATIONS OF A PRIMARY READING AND WRITING PROGRAM. 1. Developing Competent Readers and Writers: An Introduction. Meaningful Learning Environment. The Teachers Role in Instruction. Monitoring Childrens Growth as Readers and Writers. Respecting Diversity in Your Classroom. 2. Thinking About and Learning to Read: Making Meaning with Print. Extensive Experiences with Written Language. Intensive Experiences with Written Language. Learning to Think Like a Reader. Ways of Making Meaning with Text. Making Meaning and Text Difficulty. Learning About Written Language: Stages of Development. Monitoring Childrens Growth as Meaning Makers. Respecting Diversity in Meaning Making. 3. Thinking About and Learning to Write: Making Meaningful Print. Thinking and Writing. Views of Writing. Emerging Writers. Informal Writing Experiences. Process Approach to Writing-A Journey in Thinking. Integrating Writing Into Other Parts of the School Day. Helping Children Develop Legible Handwriting. Monitoring Childrens Growth as Writers. Respecting Diversity in Writing Development. 4. Thinking About and Learning Words: Meaningful Patterns in Print. Learning Words. Basic Components of Word Knowledge. Sight Vocabulary. Using Context. Phonics Patterns. Structural Patterns. Developmental Stages of Word Knowledge. Prephonemic Stage. Phonemic Stage. Letter-Name Stage. Within- Word Pattern Stage. Syllable Juncture Stage. Derivational Constancy Stage. Monitoring Childrens Growth in Word Knowledge. Respecting Diversity in Stages of Development. 5. Preparing to Teach with Childrens Literature. The Value of Authentic Literature. Forms of Childrens Literature. Genre of Childrens Literature. Narrative Writing: Becoming Aware of Literary Elements. Information Writing: Becoming Aware of Text Structures. Text Structures in Childrens Literature. Respecting Diversity Through Childrens Literature. II. THEORY TO PRACTICE: TEACHING READING AND WRITING IN THE PRIMARY CLASSROOMS. 6. Read-Aloud and Independent Reading: An Absolute Must! Inviting Children Into Books. Tips for Good Read-Alouds. Guiding Children Through Books. Respecting Diversity Through Read-Alouds. Promoting Independent Reading. Independent Reading. Providing an Environment for Independent Reading. Monitoring Childrens Growth in Reading. Respecting Diversity Through Read-Aloud and Independent Reading. 7. Writers Workshop and Beyond: Putting the Writing Process to Work. Writers Workshop in First Grade. What is Writers Workshop? Components of Writers Workshop. Trying On Different Types of Writing. Monitoring Childrens Growth as Writers. Respecting Diversity in Childrens Writing. 8. Language Experience Approach: Using Childrens Language for Reading and Writing. What is the Language Experience Approach? Steps in Language Experience Approach. Organizing for LEA Instruction. Using LEA to Supplement the Language Arts Program. Monitoring Childrens Growth in LEA. Respecting Diversity with LEA. 9. Li