Essay. Poetry. Book Clubs. Digital Composition. Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher extend their work in 180 Days: Two Teachers and the Quest to Engage and Empower Adolescents by taking a deep dive into four essential studies. Their aim is to move beyond compliance and formula, and to develop students’ agency, independence, and decision-making skills. These four practices, they argue, have the power to transform students’ relationship with literacy—and truly prepare them for the more demanding work of college.
A central belief underlies each of the four studies—that composing involves choosing, picking among options. It is not following a pre-set pattern. But if students are to make these choices, they need to be aware of the moves and possibilities open to them. That’s what this book does—it shows how teacher demonstrations, the skillful use of mentor texts, effective feedback (and many other tools) can make choices possible.
By reimagining how we teach essay, poetry, book clubs, and digital composition, we can open the door to more engaged, connected, and challenging learning.
Two teachers. Two classrooms.
One school year.
180 Days represents the collaboration of two master teachers-Kelly Gallagher and Penny Kittle-over an entire school year: planning, teaching, and reflecting within their own and each other’s classrooms in California and New Hampshire. Inspired by a teacher’s question, “How do you fit it all in?” they identified and prioritized the daily, essential, belief-based practices that are worth spending time on. They asked, “Who will these students be as readers and writers after a year under our care?”
What we make time for matters: what we plan, how we revise our plans while teaching, and how we reflect and decide what’s next. The decision-making in the moment is the most essential work of teaching, and it’s the ongoing study of the adolescents in front of us that has the greatest impact on our thinking.
With both the demands of time and the complexity of diverse students in mind, Kelly and Penny mapped out a year of engaging literacy practices aligned to their core beliefs about what matters most. They share their insights on managing time and tasks and offer teaching strategies for engaging students in both whole class and independent work. Video clips of Kelly and Penny teaching in each other’s classrooms bring this year to life and show you what a steadfast commitment to belief-based instruction looks like in action.
180 Days. Make every moment matter. Teach fearlessly. Empower all students to live literate lives.
Children Want to Write is a collection of Donald Graves most significant writings paired with video that illuminates his research and his inspiring work with teachers. See the earliest documented use of invented spelling, the earliest attempts to guide young children through a writing process, the earliest conferences.
This collection allows you to see this revolutionary shift in writing instruction-with its emphasis on observation, reflection, and approaching children as writers.