Kristien Zenkov

Janet C. Richards

This book critiques the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and their development, implementation, and evaluation. It offers a social justice perspective on CCSS, with practical examples of curricula that empower diverse learners. Chapters include first-person accounts of integrating social justice with CCSS.

Empowering Diverse Learners and Their Teachers

Social Justice, The Common Core, and Closing the Instructional Gap

Cynthia B. Leung

Cynthia A. Lassonde

Literacy researchers and educators are currently involved in exciting international literacy projects. However, many in the field are not aware of these initiatives. In compiling this edited volume, our intent is to provide a resource book for university instructors and research faculty with examples of international literacy projects and what was learned from the projects. Chapter contributors offer stories of real people who collaborate across nations to exchange ideas, promote literacy development, and increase global understandings. The literacy initiatives presented in this book show how literacy colleagues have provided opportunities for students and educators of different countries to communicate in meaningful ways. Through international literacy projects and research, participants work to forge relationships based on mutual respect, despite their differing cultures and languages. They see their work as based on the mutual connectedness to the human community.

International Collaborations in Literacy Research and Practice

A guide for teaching all your students the skills they need to be successful writers The 25 mini-lessons provided in this book are designed to develop students’ self-regulated writing behaviors and enhance their self-perceived writing abilities. These foundational writing strategies are applicable and adaptable to all primary students: emergent, advanced, English Language Learners, and struggling writers. Following the SCAMPER (Screen and assess, Confer, Assemble materials, Model, Practice, Execute, Reflect) mini-lesson model devised by the authors, the activities show teachers how to scaffold the writing strategies that students need in order to take control of their independent writing. Reveals helpful writing strategies, including making associations, planning, visualizing, accessing cues, using mnemonics, and more Offers ideas for helping students revise, check, and monitor their writing assignments Explains the author's proven SCAMPER model that is appropriate for students in grades K-3 Let Richards and Lassonde—two experts in the field of childhood education—guide you through these proven strategies for enhancing young children's writing skills.

Scaffolding Independent Writing with Differentiated Mini-Lessons, Grades K-3

Writing Strategies for All Primary Students

There is little doubt that the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are a controversial entity. They are provocative for the way in which they have been developed, for the ways they are being implemented and evaluated, for their content, and for their failure to explicitly consider the needs, interests, and histories of diverse populations. While the CCSS continue to be problematized by critics around the country—including the editors of this volume—it is evident our nation is moving toward (some would argue we have arrived at) a national set of standards and/or a national curriculum. This text will be an important volume for multiple audiences, in large part because it will bring together critical perspectives on the CCSS and the notion of national standards/curricula. It will simultaneously provide a social justice orientation as a way to interpret the CCSS and respond to their limits, while presenting practical examples of social justice?oriented, CCSS?focused curricula that empower diverse learners and their teachers. Social Justice, the Common Core, and Closing the Instructional Gap will consist of chapters by classroom teachers and university scholars who portray honest, engaging, first?person accounts of their successes and challenges connecting a social justice pedagogical orientation to the Common Core State Standards. These authors candidly and passionately share the challenges of navigating between a social justice curriculum and high stakes standards? and test?driven environments. They highlight their accomplishments that include effectively supporting students to consider social injustices and devise plans to work toward a more equitable world.

Janet C. Richards

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