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Teaching With Author Web Sites, K–8
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Teaching With Author Web Sites, K–8

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November 2009 | 152 pages | Corwin

"As a folklorist, writer, and teacher of writing, I know firsthand how interactive author Web sites make it possible for students to talk, meet, and exchange ideas with extraordinary writers. Reissman and Gura have devised a brilliant strategy for utilizing the World Wide Web in the service of literacy. This book offers a wide range of opportunities for teachers and students to use these free resources to foster literacy and learning in the classroom."
—Steve Zeitlin, Director
City Lore

Foster students' literacy and learning in the digital age through the engaging world of author Web sites!

Using the Internet as an instructional tool can be daunting, but this innovative guide demonstrates how very easily and effectively author Web sites can be integrated into any classroom as a free and accessible resource for instruction, thus fulfilling the mandate for using technology in teaching and learning.

Rose Cherie Reissman and Mark Gura show teachers how to make the most of author Web sites—from such favorite authors as Jean Craighead George, Judy Blume, and Eric Carle—to deepen students' engagement with reading and invite students into a fascinating literary community. The authors offer a rich trove of resources for teachers to explore:

  • Activities that encourage and energize reluctant learners to participate in class discussions
  • Strategies to promote literacy learning, including nonfiction reading, narrative writing, visual literacy, and much more
  • Suggestions for using Web sites as a learning tool in math, science, and social studies
  • Simple instructions on how students can create their own author-focused Web sites

No matter what your level of technological expertise, this book provides the guidance needed to use author Web sites to encourage students' lifelong literacy.


 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Introduction
 
1. Welcome to the World of Authors and Readers Online
 
2. Getting Started: Beginning to Explore and Use Digital Author Resources, With Eric Carle
 
3. Reading Through Writing: Rich Language Arts and Social Studies Learning, With T.A. Barron
 
4. Welcome to Judy Blume's Home Base
 
5. Illustrators Are Authors Too!
 
6. Creating Class Author Study Web Sites
 
Appendixes
A. Extra Activities to Extend and Expand Experience With Digital Author Studies

 
B. Pedagogy and Standards

 
 
Resources
 
References
 
Index

"As a folklorist, writer, and teacher of writing, I know firsthand how interactive author Web sites make it possible for students to talk, meet, and exchange ideas with extraordinary writers. With the click of a mouse, a writer enters into a student's universe in a new way—and literature itself moves closer to home. Reissman, a transformative teacher, and Gura, one of New York City's strongest proponents of technology and education, have devised a brilliant strategy for utilizing the World Wide Web in the service of literacy. This book offers a wide range of opportunities for teachers and students to use these free resources to foster literacy and learning in the classroom."

Steve Zeitlin, Director
City Lore

"As a manager of the NY Daily News eEdition, I believe teachers need to tap author sites and eEditions to foster engaged literacy. This book, with its strategies for connecting teachers with online author sites, helps make literature come alive for students."

Lauren Gurnee, NIE Assistant Manager, Educational Programs
The New York Daily News

"A ready-to-go resource for teachers of 21st-century literacy. While many see the need for digital-age curriculum, just what to do and how to do it often remain a mystery. Road maps like this one that blaze a clear path for bringing The New Learning into our nation's classrooms are exactly what's needed just now!"

Marina Leight, Editor in Chief
Converge Magazine

"A fantastic tool for educators to utilize in their classroom, shortening the distance between the educator and the author and expanding the horizons of the classroom into the World Wide Web. Whether it be listening to a podcast, reading a biographical essay, or simply viewing family pictures, the text-to-author connection is easily facilitated using this practical and handy implement."

Chaia Frishman, In-House Literacy Developer
Yeshiva Darchei Torah

"A gift to the social studies educator that provides a teacher-ready means to integrate technology, literacy, and citizenship learning into primary, elementary, and middle school classrooms. During this period of high-stakes testing when social studies content is often ignored for English language arts and mathematics test focus, this work by two talented and veteran educators shows how author Web studies can immediately connect students to social studies content and civic goals while they become ongoing readers and writers."

David Keller Trevaskis, Esquire, Executive Director, LEAP-Kids
President, Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies

"This valuable tool brings a new dimension to the teaching of reading and literacy, giving teachers a chance to further engage their students. It gives teachers and students the opportunity to analyze, discuss, and integrate the personal element into the curriculum across subject areas, with very explicit and detailed instruction."

Shifra Hanon, Language Arts Teacher and Enrichment Supervisor
Yeshiva of Flatbush High School, Brooklyn, NY

"A reference such as this has been needed for some time. Educators and parents alike will benefit from this book, which will make 21st-century education a 'mission: possible.'”

Daniel Stein, Professor
Touro College

"Mark and Rose provide a myriad of strategies for using author sites, blogs, and other multimedia resources to connect students with authors whose works they study in class or read on their own. The book is a terrific convergence of technology and literacy that will result in students becoming lifelong pursuers of literacy engagement."

Bernard Percy, Producer/Educator
Author of The Power of Creative Writing

"As the head of NYC Mind Lab Thinking Skills Training Centers and Futurekids Literacy Technology Centers, I can readily see that integrating use of author Web sites into ongoing literacy and technology student-centered projects will reciprocally enhance lifelong multimedia and print literacy. It is so good to see the work of these two veteran classroom educators and researchers available to teachers K-8."

Stephane Ifrah, President & CEO
FUTUREKIDS and Mind Lab NY

"Reissman and Gura provide educators a very realistic approach for seamlessly weaving technology and instruction. Their approach is practical, while keeping in sight what should be our ultimate goal as educators: cultivating lifelong learners, not just short-term test-takers. Younger students' curiosity will be piqued through the use of technology, middle school students are motivated, and literacy becomes more meaningful for reluctant readers and writers."

Veronica Cordero-Turner, Educator
Mt. Vernon City School District, NY
Key features

This helpful guide includes:

  • Links to the Web sites of favorite elementary and middle school authors and illustrators, such as Eric Carle, Gail Gibbons, and Jean Craighead George
  • An interview with Judy Blume
  • "Try This With Your Classes" suggestions throughout for using the information from Web sites in classroom lessons and projects across the curriculum, such as teaching narrative writing skills, understanding the interplay of text and illustrations, reading nonfiction texts, and much more
  • A chapter showing how you and your class can co-create your own author-focused Web sites

Sample Materials & Chapters

Reissman_Teaching_Intro

Reissman_Teaching_Ch1


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