Inspired Learners, Active Minds: A Guide for the English Classroom

(Paperback)

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Inspired Learners, Active Minds: A Guide for the English Classroom is a step-by-step, year-long teaching plan that has practical and easy-to-use best practice strategies for secondary English teachers. The book lays out an instructional model that improves literacy for every single student. With this guide, teachers will develop reading fluency, improve essay and research paper writing, and purposefully integrate literature into their classrooms by using student-centered lessons and examples.

Inspired Learners, Active Minds helps students think critically and enthusiastically about reading, writing, literature, and portfolios.

Reviews

Dennis Kafalas' straight forward approach gives urban teachers meaningful tools and strategies that engage and motivate even the most reluctant ELA student. -- Jean Capitumini, English teacher, Woonsocket High School (RI)
For the urban educator, this book is particularly inspirational because it is grounded in the rich wisdom of practice and provides a detailed road map for engaging students in meaningful literacy. -- Lynne Bedard, Ph.D., principal, Woonsocket Area Career and Technical Center (RI)
Dennis Kafalas' workshop model is a fantastic combination of best practice theory and real life application. My students have a choice in their learning; as a result, the sense of pride they have in their own work is amazing! -- Elizabeth Gomes, English teacher, Blackstone-Millville Regional High School (MA)
For teachers seeking a step-by-step blueprint for implementing a writer's workshop...Inspired Learners, Active Minds is my recommended initial professional resource. The focus is not on [just] the teaching of writing, but on teaching the writer through modeling, explicit mini-lessons and student choice. -- Donald W. Holder, Ed.D., graduate writing professor, Providence College (RI) and assistant superintendent of schools, Smithfield, RI
Inspired Learners, Active Minds: A Guide for the English Classroom is the perfect marriage of philosophy and practicality...[the] teacher is facilitator of a shared, literate community, providing students time and opportunity to read, write and think. -- Janine Napolitano, 2005 English Teacher of the Year, Rhode Island Council Teachers of English, North Providence High School

Author Bio

Dennis Kafalas has taught middle and high school English in urban and suburban settings for twenty years. He has worked with a variety of students in interesting and insightful ways.