Engaging Minds in English Language Arts Classrooms: The Surprising Power of Joy

In this work, the author applies the learning framework she described in Engaging Minds in the Classroom to the English language arts classroom, describing specific techniques and activities for student reading, writing, speaking, and listening in Grades 1-12. The activities can be used with different types of students, including English language learners. The author reviews research that supports her paradigm of 'joyful learning' which stresses the importance of engagement and motivation, and shows how joyful learning instruction techniques can be used to support education initiatives such as Common Core State Standards. Classroom techniques are grouped into five categories: school community, classroom environment, and whole-group, small-group, and individual instruction. There is also material on how to evaluate the five elements of learning: the learner, the teacher, text and materials, assessments, and schoolwide configurations. Assessment tools to guide instructional practice are included. The reader-friendly layout features many summary charts, appealing process diagrams, and margin tips. Annotation ©2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)