Literacy for the 21st Century: A Balanced Approach (4th Edition) [Paperback]

Gail E. Tompkins (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0131190768 | ISBN-13: 978-0131190764 | Publication Date: April 2, 2005 | Edition: 4

Literacy for the 21st Century is the number #1 reading text preferred by teacher educators, future teachers, and in-service teachers. It continues to offer the most balanced approach to literacy instruction on the market today, while providing the clearest look into successful literacy teaching. The new 4th Edition has been thoroughly revised to address the realities of today's classroom and to provide invaluable practical resources instructors will want their students to keep for use in their own classroom.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

What makes Literacy for the 21^st Century the most valuable and relevant literacy text on the market?

 

Authenticity

Bringing in the voices of K-8 teachers and students, Literacy for the 21^st Century will help you envision the opportunities and challenges that await you when teaching reading and writing.  You will:

• View teachers in action through the thrilling new DVD created to help you see literacy strategies in the context of classroom teaching.
• Envision today’s classrooms through chapter opening vignettes that share stories from successful literacy classrooms.
• Observe literacy learning and assessment in the student work samples that appear throughout chapters, helping you recognize the ways students develop as readers and writers. 

 

Balance

Literacy for the 21^st Century strengthens and clarifies the ways to balance skills and strategies instruction with authentic reading and writing experiences. Careful study of this text will allow you to: 

• Understand literacy instruction in terms of four foundational instructional approaches: basal reading programs, literature focus units, literature circles, and reading and writing workshop.
• Recognize the ten Components of a Balanced Literacy Program through new chapter features, clarifying the elements to balance and the ways to do it successfully.

 

Classroom Practice

Loaded with ideas to take right into the classroom, Literacy for the 21^st Century truly prepares you to differentiate your teaching and meet the needs of all students.  Special features include:

• Nurturing English Learners features thatdemonstrate how chapter content must be reconsidered in terms of the English learner. 
• Scaffolding Struggling Readers features, providing pivotal information to help students who struggle make real progress in developing literacy competency.
• Minilessons that offerclear, concise skill and strategy instruction, ready for you to take right into your classrooms!
• A Compendium of Instructional Procedures composed of dozens of step-by-step instructional methods designed to get you up and running quickly in your own literacy classroom.

About the Author

Gail E. Tompkins is Professor Emerita at California State Unversity, Fresno, and she continues to direct the San Joaquin Valley Writing Project.  She regularly works with teachers in their kindergarten through eighth-grade classrooms and leads staff development programs on reading, language arts, and writing.  In 1998 Dr. Tompkins was inducted into the California Reading Association's Reading Hall of Fame in recognition of her publication and other accomplishments in the field of reading, and recently she was awarded the prestigious Provost's Award for Excellence in Teaching at California's State University, Fresno.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 4 edition (April 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131190768
• ISBN-13: 978-0131190764
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!!!, December 26, 2006

By 

ANSSO (Seabrook, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Literacy for the 21st Century: A Balanced Approach (4th Edition) (Paperback)

I found this book to be fantastic!!!! The green pages at the back give many great ideas for teachers of literacy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Balanced Approach - 4th Edition, February 9, 2007

By 

Stacey Lovett (Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Literacy for the 21st Century: A Balanced Approach (4th Edition) (Paperback)

I purchased this book for a class I took in spring 06 and found it extremly helpful. I've applied the balance approach method in working with young children. I've also applied the information helping my 3 year old learn to read. He is now 4 and enjoys reading. I highly recommend this book.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful, March 10, 2006

By 

S. Foley (Maryland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Literacy for the 21st Century: A Balanced Approach (4th Edition) (Paperback)

I needed to order this book for a class. It is well written and easy to read. As a reading teacher I can say that I will keep this book as a reference long after the class has ended. This edition comes with a CD (or DVD) which I have not previewed yet, but the instructor of my class raves about it.