Teaching With Author Web Sites, K-8

Rose Reissman is Chief Academic Officer of Mind Lab and Head of the Writing Institute at the Ditmas Education Complex. She is an ongoing classroom public school educator who has successfully taught and continues to teach literacy, project-based learning, special education, gifted and talented students, and ELL students K-12. As an outcome of her own professional development, Reissman has taught graduate education course at Manhattanville College, LIU, Fordham, and MCNY-Metropolitan College of New York. Reissman has published extensively in the field of multiculutral education, literacy, middle school literacy, law-related education, technology integration,and writing across content. She has done residencies and consultancies throughout the country. The strength of her presentations and conversations with educators lies in the fact that her insights, strategies, activities, and recommendations are based on her ongoing teacher research in the classroom with actual students. She is also willing to demo her techniques with classes of actual student learners. Mark Gura has been involved in the integration of technology across the curriculum for the past 17 years o f his 35-year career as an educator. The former director of the Office of Instructional Technology of the New York City Board of Education, he has planned, supervised, and implemented professional development for thousands of teachers. A Senior Fellow of the Center for Digital Education, Gura has written extensively on the instructional applications of technology for ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education); Converge, EdTech, and T.H.E. Journal magazines; and the New York Daily News. He currently teaches graduate courses in the use of technology for teachers at Fordham University and Touro College. He is also the co-producer of the popular Internet radio program, The Teachers Podcast.

Acknowledgments About the Authors Introduction 1. Welcome to the World of Authors and Readers Online 2. Getting Started: Beginning to Explore and Use Digital Author Resources, With Eric Carle 3. Reading Through Writing: Rich Language Arts and Social Studies Learning, With T.A. Barron 4. Welcome to Judy Blume's Home Base 5. Illustrators Are Authors Too! 6. Creating Class Author Study Web Sites Appendixes A. Extra Activities to Extend and Expand Experience With Digital Author Studies B. Pedagogy and Standards Resources References Index

"As a folklorist, writer, and teacher of writing, I know firsthand how interactive author Web sites make it possible for students to talk, meet, and exchange ideas with extraordinary writers. With the click of a mouse, a writer enters into a student's universe in a new way-and literature itself moves closer to home. Reissman, a transformative teacher, and Gura, one of New York City's strongest proponents of technology and education, have devised a brilliant strategy for utilizing the World Wide Web in the service of literacy. This book offers a wide range of opportunities for teachers and students to use these free resources to foster literacy and learning in the classroom." -- Steve Zeitlin, Director "As a manager of the NY Daily News eEdition, I believe teachers need to tap author sites and eEditions to foster engaged literacy. This book, with its strategies for connecting teachers with online author sites, helps make literature come alive for students." -- Lauren Gurnee, NIE Assistant Manager, Educational Programs "A ready-to-go resource for teachers of 21st-century literacy. While many see the need for digital-age curriculum, just what to do and how to do it often remain a mystery. Road maps like this one that blaze a clear path for bringing The New Learning into our nation's classrooms are exactly what's needed just now!" -- Marina Leight, Editor in Chief "A fantastic tool for educators to utilize in their classroom, shortening the distance between the educator and the author and expanding the horizons of the classroom into the World Wide Web. Whether it be listening to a podcast, reading a biographical essay, or simply viewing family pictures, the text-to-author connection is easily facilitated using this practical and handy implement." -- Chaia Frishman, In-House Literacy Developer "A gift to the social studies educator that provides a teacher-ready means to integrate technology, literacy, and citizenship learning into primary, elementary, and middle school classrooms. During this period of high-stakes testing when social studies content is often ignored for English language arts and mathematics test focus, this work by two talented and veteran educators shows how author Web studies can immediately connect students to social studies content and civic goals while they become ongoing readers and writers." -- David Keller Trevaskis, Esquire, Executive Director, LEAP-Kids "This valuable tool brings a new dimension to the teaching of reading and literacy, giving teachers a chance to further engage their students. It gives teachers and students the opportunity to analyze, discuss, and integrate the personal element into the curriculum across subject areas, with very explicit and detailed instruction." -- Shifra Hanon, Language Arts Teacher and Enrichment Supervisor "A reference such as this has been needed for some time. Educators and parents alike will benefit from this book, which will make 21st-century education a 'mission: possible.'" -- Daniel Stein, Professor "Mark and Rose provide a myriad of strategies for using author sites, blogs, and other multimedia resources to connect students with authors whose works they study in class or read on their own. The book is a terrific convergence of technology and literacy that will result in students becoming lifelong pursuers of literacy engagement." -- Bernard Percy, Producer/Educator "As the head of NYC Mind Lab Thinking Skills Training Centers and Futurekids Literacy Technology Centers, I can readily see that integrating use of author Web sites into ongoing literacy and technology student-centered projects will reciprocally enhance lifelong multimedia and print literacy. It is so good to see the work of these two veteran classroom educators and researchers available to teachers K-8." -- Stephane Ifrah, President & CEO "Reissman and Gura provide educators a very realistic approach for seamlessly weaving technology and instruction. Their approach is practical, while keeping in sight what should be our ultimate goal as educators: cultivating lifelong learners, not just short-term test-takers. Younger students' curiosity will be piqued through the use of technology, middle school students are motivated, and literacy becomes more meaningful for reluctant readers and writers." -- Veronica Cordero-Turner, Educator