Breaking Through the Language Arts Block

Lesley Mandel Morrow, PhD, is Distinguished Professor of Literacy and Director of the Center for Literacy Development at the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Her research, which she conducts with children and families from diverse backgrounds, deals with early literacy development and the organization and management of language arts programs and literacy-rich environments. Dr. Morrow has published more than 300 journal articles, chapters, and books. Her work has been recognized with awards including the Outstanding Teacher Educator in Reading Award and the William S. Gray Citation of Merit, both from the International Literacy Association (ILA), and the Oscar S. Causey Award for outstanding contributions to reading research from the Literacy Research Association. Dr. Morrow is past president of the ILA and is a member and past president of the Reading Hall of Fame.Kenneth Kunz, EdD, is a Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction in the New Jersey Public Schools and also serves as president of the New Jersey Literacy Association. He began his career as a third-grade teacher in the New Jersey Public Schools. Dr. Kunz has received recognition as an outstanding teacher through the New Jersey Governor’s Teacher Recognition Program and was awarded the Edward Fry Fellowship in Literacy at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.Maureen Hall, EdS, is a part-time lecturer at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and is a literacy coach in several districts across New Jersey through the Rutgers Center for Literacy Development. As a teacher, she was recognized through the New Jersey Governor’s Teacher Recognition Program. She serves on the advisory board of the Rutgers Center for Literacy Development and is vice president of the New Jersey Literacy Association.

"How does a teacher fit it all in while creating a student-centered classroom? This is the guide we all need now. As an instructional coach, I want all teachers to read it, talk about it, try the exemplary literacy day in their classrooms, and watch children thrive and learn. The authors acknowledge the variety of curricular expectations across districts, making the book helpful for teachers in all situations."--Kathy Harris, instructional coach, Piner–Olivet Union School District, Santa Rosa, California"All elementary language arts teachers, both novice and experienced, should read this book and reflect on how to improve the management and organization of their own classrooms. The book is anchored in the importance of classroom culture and prioritizes a learner-centered mindset. Expanding the focus from the 'language arts block' to the broader context, the authors quickly pull the reader in. Research and practical suggestions are folded in with spot-on vignettes, management tips, straightforward recommendations for a comprehensive curriculum, and resources for additional learning. Once you start reading, the book is hard to put down--you will want to replicate these authors' visionary language arts classroom for the children you teach."--Allison Swan Dagen, PhD, College of Education and Human Services, West Virginia University"Morrow has been at the forefront of literacy education for decades. Her work has guided thousands of young teachers and career professionals through all the research, trends, controversies, reforms, and re-reforms roiling American education. This timely book pulls together information we can trust, helping K-6 teachers give their students the optimal balance of instruction, support, and exploration. Some of the ideas presented are reliable and familiar; others, like the vocabulary meetings, rework established practice into fresh and even more powerful patterns. On their way through this volume, teachers will dwell on the details, savor the practical strategies, and benefit from the wisdom from cover to cover."--Harvey “Smokey” Daniels, PhD, author and literacy consultant, Santa Fe, New Mexico"Showing that teacher expertise is the heart of good instruction, this book proposes a classroom in which students are engaged and motivated learners as they are immersed in literacy all day long. Step-by-step explanations of how to implement an exemplary literacy program include sample lesson plans, lesson templates, management tips, instructional resources, Web links, and more. Breaking Through the Language Arts Block is perfect for preservice and novice teachers who are looking for a detailed account of best instructional practices."--Debbie Rickards, PhD, instructional coordinator (retired), Caddo Parish Schools, Louisiana -

• 1. Getting Started with the Exemplary Literacy Day2. Setting Up the Literacy Environment3. Assessment Guiding Instruction4. Introducing the Vocabulary Meeting5. Word-Study Session: Strategies for Figuring Out Words, Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and More6. Literacy Work Stations7. Guided Reading: Grouping for Differentiation of Instruction8. Reading Comprehension Workshop9. Writing Workshop10. Interdisciplinary Literacy InstructionConcluding ThoughtsAppendix A. Exemplary Literacy Day Planning Example (Olga Pryymak and Shira Wasserman)Appendix B: Fry (1980) Sight Words Grouped by Relative DifficultyReferences