Literacy Moments: Creating Daily Teachable Moments with Beginning Readers

(Paperback)

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In the course of any given day in an early-elementary classroom, a variety of situations present themselves through which a thoughtful teacher could develop teachable moments. This book provides teachers with the tools to consider those teachable opportunities as literacy moments: brief, authentic, joyful encounters with texts in all forms. Here, teachers learn to nurture joyful readers by infusing their classrooms daily lives with authentic literacy moments every day. The book is organized into three sections, each section containing three chapters. The first section's chapters focus on creating a "literacy moments" learning environment, addressing both the affective and physical domains, as well as the need for teachers to undergo a mindset shift in cultivating their personal reading habits. The second section's chapters emphasize literacy moments for the foundational skills of word recognition and vocabulary development. Here, readers explore the integration of popular culture and the arts into their physical domain, as well as methods for creating and effectively using a print-rich environment. The last section's chapters target literacy moments for developing critical thinking through comprehension processes. The chapters focus on intentionally incorporating literacy moments in each stage of the reading process: pre-reading, during reading, and post-reading.

Reviews

Literacy Moments: Creating Daily Teachable Moments with Beginning Readers is an excellent resource for novice and experienced teachers. The text offers a wealth of principles and practices for increasing students reading motivation. You will leave this book with practical instructional strategies and the inspiration to create opportunities for teachable moments for all students. -- Barbara Purdum-Cassidy, coeditor of Culturally Affirming Literacy Practices for Urban Elementary Students (2016), and Teaching Literacy in Urban Schools: Lessons from the Field (2018)
Every school day holds many opportunities for students to engage in meaningful learning. Dr. Witter-Easleys book Literacy Moments provides teachers with smart strategies for incorporating brief, effective reading and writing experiences. I recommend this practical resource for all elementary classrooms. -- Matt Renwick, elementary school principal, blogger (readbyexample.com), and author of Five Myths of Classroom Technology: How Do We Integrate Digital Tools to Truly Enhance Learning (2015, ASCD)
The notion that gaining early literacy skills is key to overall academic success is no secret. What remains hidden are the inequities that still exist for access to quality beginning reading instruction and culturally authentic texts in particular. In Literacy Moments: Creating Daily Teachable Moments with Beginning Readers, Witter-Easley reminds us of what is needed to ensure equity for all early readers. -- Sharroky Hollie, Executive Director, Center for Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning and author of Strategies for Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching and Learning (2015, Shell Education Publications)
Teachers will enjoy the straightforward approach of this text. The book offers a variety of suggestions for teachers to adopt to enhance reading comprehension. -- Dr. Pamela J. Farris, Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus, Northern Illinois University and coauthor of Language Arts: Process, Product, and Assessment for Diverse Classrooms, 6th edition (2019, Waveland Press)

Author Bio

Jacqueline Witter-Easley is the dean of the Division of Professional Studies at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where she also serves as an associate professor in the Department of Education and teaches courses in elementary reading methods and creative arts. Dr. Easley is a former elementary teacher, primarily in grades one and two. She was also an assistant childrens librarian in her local public library where she created a variety of childrens programs for the community.