Spring 2012
Teacher PD Sourcebook, Vol. 5, Issue 2
Reading & Literacy
'Visual Dictionary' Defines Good Readers
A new study finds that skilled readers do not rely on sounds when reading but rather retrieve words purely from a "visual dictionary."
Education
Best Practices for Formative Assessment of Student Writing
A new study highlights best practices for formative assessment in writing.
Teaching Profession
Formative Assessment: Using Feedback to Feed Forward
Education professors speaking at the annual conference of the National Council of Teachers of English outlined the components of effective formative assessment.
Professional Development
Common Core Raises PD Opportunities, Questions
With all but five states having adopted the Common Core State Standards in math and language arts, education leaders are expecting to see a surge of online professional development resources to help guide teachers through the transition.
Curriculum
Opinion
Unexpected Tutors
A Bronx teacher transforms her struggling freshman writing class into a thriving workshop by turning to older students for help.
Special Education
Redefining Books
A new digital book-sharing service gives students with disabilities access to books in alternative content formats.
Professional Development
Turning Teachers Into Coaches
The Literacy Collaborative's coaching-based program offers lessons on reading instruction and professional development design.
Reading & Literacy
Creating a Menu for Reading Instruction
In an exclusive interview, the authors of The CAFE Book discuss their system for catering to students' individual reading needs.
Reading & Literacy
Math and Literacy: Not-So-Strange Bedfellows
In a unique teacher-research project, four educators in Columbia, Mo., are attempting to explore the effectiveness of integrating literacy strategies into mathematics instruction.
Reading & Literacy
Opinion
Reading Fiction Whole
A language arts teacher uses a "whole novel" approach to give her students authentic literary experiences.
Reading & Literacy
Websites to Know
Several online tools have gained recognition from language arts for helping them engage students in reading and writing.
Teaching Profession
Exploring the Value of Good Teachers
An statistical analysis by economists at Harvard and Columbia universities finds that having a high-quality teacher for even one year can have a measurable long-term impact on students' career outcomes.
Professional Development
The Sociability Factor
Increasing meaningful collaboration among teachers should be a more integral part of school-improvement efforts, says one researcher.
Education
Changing the Script
This issue of the Teacher PD Sourcebook aims to highlight instructional efforts that, against difficult odds, are showing signs of success in bringing reading and writing to life for today's students.
Teaching Profession
The Master's Degree Effect?
Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress show that students whose teachers hold master's degrees score higher on the NAEP math and reading exams than those whose teachers have only bachelor's degrees.
Reading & Literacy
Teaching Poetry
The Poetry Foundation has developed curriculum materials for teaching African-American poetry.
Education
NCTE Launches Literacy Hub
The National Council of Teachers of English plans to create a new Web-based literacy center for educators of all disciplines.
Education
English Teachers vs. Facebook
Teachers ponder fate of the English language in the Facebook era.
Curriculum
Authentic Writing Instruction
In his new book, teacher Kelly Gallagher says schools need to imbue writing instruction with real-world purpose.
Professional Development
Putting Student Writing Center Stage
A group of actors and improv comedians called the Story Pirates inspires kids to write creatively by giving them a purpose beyond class.
