Teacher's Corner

According to the NAEP, two thirds of American school children read below grade level proficiency. Some cognitive psychologists and neuroscientists argue that this is because of the gap between what we know about the science of reading and how reading is taught in the classroom.

In their recent book, Brain Words: How the Science of Reading Informs Teaching, Richard Gentry and Gene Ouellete explain the latest research and theory on lexical representation and its relation to rapid and accurate word reading, a necessary skill to mastering literacy.

In this episode, Dr. Gentry briefly explains brain words and how parents can understand their connection to their children's reading development.

Links:

Brain Words

J. Richard Gentry

Twitter

His blog at Psychology Today

Kindergarten Ready, hosted by Dr. Gene Ouellette

As we begin a new school year, Amanda Jansen and Chris Luzniak share their experiences teaching during the pandemic, how communication with students and colleagues has changed, and the challenges and opportunities presented in moving math discussion from the classroom to Zoom sessions. L I N K S : Mandy @MandyMathEd Rough Draft Math: Revising to Learn Chris @CLuzniak https://clopendebate.wordpress.com https://www.luzniak.com Up for Debate: Exploring Math Through Argument Flipgrid Kahoot

Kassia Omohundro Wedekind, and Christy Hermann Thompson, have spent years comparing notes on how to build effective classroom communities across the content areas.

Their research led to the development of Hands Down Conversations, an innovative discourse structure in which all students' ideas and voices take the lead while teachers focus on listening and facilitating. That structure is detailed in their new book, Hands Down Speak Out: Listening and Talking Across Literacy and Math, K-5.

In today's episode, Kassia and Christy share their thinking behind their book and the importance of investing time developing dialogue skills to deepen understanding of literacy and mathematics, and also of ourselves and our world. There's loads of thoughtful and engaging talk here today, starting with Kassia sharing how she and Christy became friends.

----------------------------------------------------------------Links:

Hands Down, Speak Out:

https://www.stenhouse.com/content/hands-down-speak-out

You can find Kassia and Christy online at https://handsdownspeakout.wordpress.com

Twitter: @kassiaowedekind & @TeacherThomp

Transcript available at our blog:

https://blog.stenhouse.com/podcast-listening-and-talking-across-literacy-and-math

What if we viewed every read aloud as an invitation to learn more about literacy and ourselves? That's the opportunity presented in JoEllen McCarthy's new book, Layers of Learning: Using Read-Alouds to Connect Literacy and Caring Conversations.

Earlier this summer, JoEllen joined us to talk about her new book, how to think differently about your classroom library, and offered several great choices of heartprint books.

Layers of Learning:

https://www.stenhouse.com/1291.asphttps://www.stenhouse.com/content/layers-learning

JoEllen McCarthy: @JoEllenMcCarthy

Book links available at the Stenhouse Blog.

Gravity Goldberg and Renée Houser, creators of the Teachers Toolkit for Independent Reading share their experiences and questions about helping kids access books and teachers, and what's important as they look to the fall.

LINKS!

The Teacher's Toolkit for Independent Reading:

https://www.stenhouse.com/1400.asp

https://www.gravityandrenee.com https://www.drgravitygoldberg.com https://www.readwritethinkwithrenee.com @DrGravityG @ReneeDHouser

What can we teach kids today that will have utility ten or fifteen years from now? Angela Kohnen and Wendy Saul propose an approach to information literacy that goes beyond the teaching of discrete, easily outdated skills. Instead, they use activity to help students build identities as curious individuals empowered to ask their own questions and able to navigate their information-filled world in pursuit of credible answers.

Thinking Like a Generalist

Imagine that you assign a math problem and your students, instead of getting discouraged after not solving it on the first attempt, start working harder—as if on a quest to figure out the answer. What could possibly make this fantastic scenario come true? The answer is: Open Middle ® Math by Robert Kaplinsky.

With these practical and intuitive strategies, extensive resources, and Robert's own stories about his journey learning to use Open Middle math problems successfully, you will be able to support, challenge, and motivate all your students.

Today's Teachers Corner features Robert reading the Introduction and Chapter 1 of Open Middle ® Math: Problems that Unlock Student Thinking, Grades 6-12.

Links:

https://www.stenhouse.com/1174.asp

https://www.RobertKaplinsky.com

https://www.OpenMiddle.com

Twitter: @RobertKaplinsky

Paula Bourque, Matthew Kay, and Terry Thompson discuss the myth of the perfect teacher, what we get wrong—and right—about teacher appreciation, and how we can show appreciation year round.

Links:

Paula Bourque: Spark!: https://www.stenhouse.com/1200.asp https://www.paulabourque.com @LitCoachLady

Matthew Kay: Not Light, But Fire: https://www.stenhouse.com/1098.asp https://www.notlight.com @MattRKay

Terry Thompson: The Construction Zone: https://www.stenhouse.com/0869.asp @TerryTreads

For the past ten years, Gail and Allison have worked with hundreds of teachers and students nationwide, gaining insight into best practices for reading instruction. Using those insights, they developed The CAFE Book, Expanded Second Edition: Engaging All Students in Daily Literacy Assessment and Instruction to help teachers apply what their research has shown— that reading instruction isn't about the setting, the basal, or the book level. Effective reading instruction is based on what that students needs in that moment. Today's podcast features Gail and Allison reading aloud from The CAFE Book: Gail reads the Letter to Colleagues and splits the duties with Allison on the Introduction.

https://www.stenhouse.com/1279.asp

https://www.thedailycafe.com

@TheDailyCafe

We discuss reframing our thinking, Lisa shares her 4 C's and leads Nate in the Presence Pause, a simple and effective technique to ground and transition yourself and your students. Do it with us!

Lisa's Site: https://www.practicingpresence.life

Register for Lisa's FREE webinar May 6: https://page.stenhouse.com/webinars

Practicing Presence: https://www.stenhouse.com/1191.asp

Twitter: @DrLisaJLucas