Sources

This is a list of books that I have been inspired by in the creation of this portfolio.  Please read the annotations to see what I am taking from each particular book.  Also included should be Lev Vygotsky and his sociocultural theory of learning.  I believe his ideas about scaffolding instruction, group-work and mentoring are particularly apt in an English classroom.  Many of my lesson ideas are either modified from one of these books or built on Vygotsky's philosophy.

Annotated List of Influential Books.

Appleman, Deborah. Critical Encounters in High School English: Teaching Literary Theory to Adolescents. New York: Teachers College P, 2000.  Nice handbook for using critical theory in secondary education settings, which I think typically gets short shrift.

Beers, G. Kylene. When Kids Can't Read, What Teachers Can Do: a Guide for Teachers, 6-12. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2003.  This book has been an invaluable aid, both to how I view literacy and plan my lessons.  Several of the lesson activities that I use are adaptations of Beers' examples, which in turn have been taken from several other sources.  

Burke, Jim. Reading Reminders: Tools, Tips, and Techniques. Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook, 2000.  A handy book to keep around.  Offers quick tips to aid meaningful instruction, as well as quick lesson ideas.

Schoenbach, Ruth. Reading for Understanding: a Guide to Improving Reading in Middle and High School Classrooms. 1st Ed. ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1999.  Proved useful to further my understanding of the importance of modeling instruction and think-aloud strategies.

Smith, Debbie, and Kathryn F.  Whitmore. Literacy and Advocacy in Adolescent Family, Gang, School, and Juvenile Court Communities: "CRIP 4 Life" Mahwah, N.J: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2006.  Opened my eyes to a new world of literacy.  One that had been given no attention at all by the academic community.  The book has its flaws, but the message for valuing alternative literacy is a strong one.

Sumara, Dennis J. Why Reading Literature in School Still Matters: Imagination, Interpretation, Insight. Mahwah, N.J: L. Erlbaum, 2002.  This book helped me to shape my understanding of the importance of literature.  It also convinced me that re-reading can be a valuable and important tool in the English Teacher's toolbox.

Tobin, Lad. Reading Student Writing: Confessions, Meditations, and Rants. Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook/Heineman, 2004.  Helped me to see that we have to respect students' own literacy, and removing the ego from my responses.

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