Hey All, A few months ago, I volunteered to review Common Core Standards in Diverse Classrooms and share some of my reflections with you. As a K-5 ESL teacher, I was excited to find a text that might provide some guidance on how to better build academic language and literacy in my program. Here are some initial thoughts on this text.
Common Core Standardsin Diverse Classrooms (J. Zwiers, S. O'Hara, and R. Pritchard) is an outstanding resource on how to teach complexlanguage and content literacy strategies so that each supports and builds onthe other. As we move into the CommonCore (and even if your state has not adopted CC), there is a strong recognitionthat many our students (even our so-called 'regular average or gifted' students!) do nothave the tools (facts, rules, word meanings, language and strategies) tocomprehend and communicate big ideas in meaningful ways. Thankfully, because this task is so complex, Common Core Standards in Diverse Classrooms focuseson three overarching themes/practices that will have a significant impact onstudents’ language and literacy skills: using complex texts, fortifying complex output and fostering academicinteraction. If you are looking for a text that will dramatically shiftyour teaching practices and student outcomes in one easy read, then this is notthe book for you. Each chapter of the text has a big idea, along withstrategies, how-tos, and real life examples of implementing the practice. As I reflect on how I will use all that Ihave learned in Common Core Standards inDiverse Classrooms, I am realizingthat I will have to shift my practice one step at a time, and not try to implementeverything at once. As I teach each newstrategy, I will need to clarify (help students understand), model (how and why), and guide (we do, you try it, you own it). As a final note, the text is filled with practical charts,graphic organizers, and posters that can be meaningfully introduced and usedwith your students. In Common Core Standards in Diverse Classrooms,the key word is meaningful. Thistext is not filled with activities, but rather, meaningful strategies,explanations, and how tos in order to build complex language and literacyskills across grade levels and content areas. In future posts, I will share some ideas and nuggets thatmight spur your thinking and impact your instructional program. Stay tuned! Dana Beruk Siegel contentfi...@aol.com _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive
