Literacy Strong All Year Long: Powerful Lessons for Grades K–2, 2nd Edition, Dec/2019

Literacy Strong All Year Long: Powerful Lessons for Grades K-2 equips educators of young children with engaging lessons that motivate students and help them develop the solid foundation of literacy skills essential to learning. Thoughtfully designed lessons linked to specific literacy standards create a seamless flow of learning throughout the seasons of the school year. Each chapter offers 10 lessons that strengthen comprehension, fluency, word work, and vocabulary. This second edition is enhanced with specific strategies for reaching and teaching English language learners and struggling readers—and a study guide to promote self-reflection and conversations with your colleagues.

The 40 interactive lessons are divided into these themes:

1. Starting the school year literacy strong. Lessons demonstrate routines, expectations, assessments, and opportunities for students to collaborate in a rich literacy community.
2. Beating the midyear blahs. Lessons offer ways to maintain momentum, monitor expectations, and chart individual progress. They include strategies to strengthen relationships among students, teachers, and parents.
3. Ending the year with intention. Lessons outline strategies for helping students achieve literacy goals and provide ideas for boosting endurance and growth.
4. Stopping the summer slide. Lessons reinforce literacy strategies and actively include families and parents in summer learning.

The lessons are presented in an accessible and comprehensive format that includes sections on preparation, active engagement, and reflection. The lesson design intentionally guides teachers to gradually release responsibility to students as they grow into self-regulated, literacy-strong learners—able and eager to use their skills to expand their learning horizons.

About the Authors:

Valerie Ellery has dedicated 30 years to education in various roles as a National Board Certified Teacher, curriculum specialist, mentor, reading coach, international educational consultant, and best-selling author. Her books have been used internationally to inspire educators to motivate and engage today's learners. She authored 10 student readers for Saint Mary's Press with guiding questions, vocabulary, and retell it cards. In addition, she coauthored two secondary curriculums in the areas of self-worth and human trafficking, Bodies Are Not Commodities and Shine Hope, which will be used to influence young adults in 37 nations. Using innovative, interactive, and informative methods, Valerie models best practices in classrooms and motivates staffs globally to create strategic thinkers and readers. She lives in Florida with her husband Gregg and has four adult children and two beautiful grandchildren.

Lori Oczkus is a literacy coach, best-selling author, and popular international speaker. Tens of thousands of teachers have attended her motivating, fast-paced workshops and read her practical, research-based professional books and articles. Lori has experience working as a bilingual elementary teacher, intervention specialist, staff developer, and literacy coach. She works with students in classrooms every week and knows the challenges that teachers face in teaching students to read. Lori has been inducted into the California Reading Association Hall of Fame for her many contributions to the field of reading. Her travels to provide literacy trainings in other countries include trips to Canada, London, and Trinidad. Lori is the author of seven best-selling professional books. Lori lives in California with her husband, Mark, and has three young adult children.

Timothy V. Rasinski is a professor of literacy education at Kent State University. He has written more than 200 articles and has authored, coauthored, or edited more than 50 books or curriculum programs on reading education. His scholarly interests include reading fluency and word study and readers who struggle. Tim has served on the board of directors of the International Reading Association and was co-editor of The Reading Teacher, the world's most widely read journal of literacy education. He has also served as co-editor of the Journal of Literacy Research. Tim is past president of the College Reading Association. was inducted into the International Reading Hall of Fame in 2010. Prior to Kent State, Tim taught literacy education at the University of Georgia. He taught for several years as an elementary and middle school classroom and Title I teacher in Nebraska.