The Art of Teaching Reading

Bit of a classic.

Calkins says, "The problem is that if our teaching is to be an art, we need an organizing vision that brings together all of these separate components into something graceful and vital and significant. It is not the number of good ideas that turns our work into art, but the selection, balance, coherence and design of those ideas (p. 4)." This articulates what I've sensed for some time and am finally beginning to understand after eight years of striving to help first graders become readers for life. Lucy Calkins built the foundation for elementary wiritng workshop and now has formed a vision for a reading workshop structure that, I believe, will endure. This book is for all elementary teachers who are about helping children create literatie lives. It is both inspiring and practical, heady and humble.

I am a new first grade teacher and just finished reading [most of] this book during my summer break. It has given me so many new ideas and perspectives, fueled my imagination for how this year's reading curriculum will flow, and ignited my excitement for the coming school year! This book provides details on a student-directed, individualized outline for teaching reading that builds off of students' personal interests and desires. The main goal is for students to acquire a love for reading and become lifelong readers.

Although this is an excellent resource book to use in the classroom I would advise paying the extra to get a new book from Amazon. I thought buying a used book from a vender through Amazon would be ok and have done it before to save a little money on school books. This vender said it was like new but when it came it had been wet and had mold all through it and it took a month to get it. So just check out the other venders very carefully. But the book itself was very helpful.

This book is very helpful to any elementary teacher that is looking for ways to improve your reading curriculum. Lucy Calkins gives plenty of ideas and new approaches to try in your classroom. I also appreciate how she writes the actual scenario she used in the classroom with real kids. It is so much easier to comprehend through real life experiences. Another book that is similar, very informative and full of GREAT ideas is Reading Essentials by Regie Routman. This is a must read as an educator.

Any time you can get your hands on Lucy Calkins materials, it is well worth your time to read and study it! Wonderful materials! Lucy Calkins can help you develop the best practices of the Danielson Framework, or for Kentucky teachers, PGES! It's a win-win-win for students, administrators, and teachers!