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Scholarship
March 29, 2017
Uncommonly Good Ideas: Teaching Writing in the Common Core Era
- Author
- Murphy, Sandra; and Smith, Mary Ann
- Publisher
- Teachers College Press, New York, NY
- ISBN
- 9780807756430
- Table of Contents
-
Foreword by (Carol Jago)
Acknowledgments
ch. 1 Exploring Uncommonly Good Ideas in Teaching Writing
Teaching Writing Is a Must-See
Writing in the Era of the Common Core
Entering Into a Professional Conversation
Last Thoughts
ch. 2 Integrating the Language Arts
Advantages of Integrating the Language Arts
Capturing the Big Idea of Integration
Taking the Plunge: First Steps in an Integrated Lesson Design
Diving Deeper: Craft Workshop with Mentor Texts and Try-It-On Writing
Diving in Again: More Practice with “Showing” Techniques
Final Reading Assignment
Final Writing Assignment
Classroom Examples: Lesson Design in Action
Last Thoughts
ch. 3 Extending the Range of Writing
Capturing the Big Idea of Range
Taking the Plunge: Investigative and Informational Writing
Diving Deeper: From Information to Argument
Last Thoughts
ch. 4 Spiraling and Scaffolding
Capturing the Big Idea of Spiraling
Taking the Plunge: Exploring Spiraling Techniques
Diving Deeper: Spiraling, Scaffolding, and Scrimmaging
Capturing the Big Idea of Scaffolding
Taking the Plunge: Possibilities for Scaffolding
Diving Deeper: Scaffolding for Writing from Reading
Diving in Again: Learning to Work with Multiple Texts
Last Thoughts
ch. 5 Collaborating
Capturing the Big Idea of Collaboration
Taking the Plunge: Teaching Students to Collaborate
Diving Deeper: Teaching Students to Collaborate Online
Diving in Again: Teaching Students to Collaborate on Long-Term Projects
Teachers Collaborating with Students
Teachers Collaborating with Each Other
Last Thoughts
ch. 6 Turning Reform Inside Out
Taking the Plunge: Teachers in the Lead
Diving Deeper: Some Reminders of What’s What
The Power of Positive Deviance
Bringing Positive Deviance to the Common Core State Standards
References
Index
About the Authors
Click Here for Book Review
Abstract: This innovative resource provides teachers with a road map for designing a comprehensive writing curriculum that meets Common Core standards. The authors zero in on several “big ideas” that lead to and support effective practices in writing instruction, such as integrating reading, writing, speaking, and listening; teaching writing as a process; extending the range of students’ writing; spiraling and scaffolding a writing curriculum; and collaborating. These “big ideas” are the cornerstones of best researched-based practices as well as the CCSS for writing.
The first chapter offers a complete lesson designed around teaching narrative writing and illustrating tried and true practices for teaching writing as a process. The remaining chapters explore a broad range of teaching approaches that help students tackle different kinds of narrative, informational, and argumentative writing and understand complexities like audience and purpose. Each chapter focuses on at least one of the uncommonly good ideas and illustrates how to create curricula around it. Uncommonly Good Ideas includes model lessons and assignments, mentor texts, teaching strategies, student writing, and practical guidance for moving the ideas from the page into the classroom.
Book Features:
- Presents no-nonsense information about teaching writing in the era of CCSS, including ways in which the CCSS are misinterpreted.
- Focuses on “the core of the core,” the bedrock on which effective teaching approaches rest.
- Incorporates the voices and practices of many talented teachers of writing, including ELA teachers from urban, rural, and suburban schools, as well as ELL teachers.
- Addresses teachers as respected, dedicated professionals whose experiences and good judgment are the linchpins of any reform. (From the Publisher)
Abstract: This innovative resource provides teachers with a road map for designing a comprehensive writing curriculum that meets Common Core standards. The authors zero in on several “big ideas” that lead to and support effective practices in writing instruction, such as integrating reading, writing, speaking, and listening; teaching writing as a process; extending the range of students’ writing; spiraling and scaffolding a writing curriculum; and collaborating. These “big ideas” are the cornerstones of best researched-based practices as well as the CCSS for writing.
The first chapter offers a complete lesson designed around teaching narrative writing and illustrating tried and true practices for teaching writing as a process. The remaining chapters explore a broad range of teaching approaches that help students tackle different kinds of narrative, informational, and argumentative writing and understand complexities like audience and purpose. Each chapter focuses on at least one of the uncommonly good ideas and illustrates how to create curricula around it. Uncommonly Good Ideas includes model lessons and assignments, mentor texts, teaching strategies, student writing, and practical guidance for moving the ideas from the page into the classroom.
Book Features:
- Presents no-nonsense information about teaching writing in the era of CCSS, including ways in which the CCSS are misinterpreted.
- Focuses on “the core of the core,” the bedrock on which effective teaching approaches rest.
- Incorporates the voices and practices of many talented teachers of writing, including ELA teachers from urban, rural, and suburban schools, as well as ELL teachers.
- Addresses teachers as respected, dedicated professionals whose experiences and good judgment are the linchpins of any reform. (From the Publisher)