Teaching With Intention: Defining Beliefs, Aligning Practice, Taking Action, Grades K-5

by Miller, Debbie

• ISBN13: 9781571103871
• ISBN10: 1571103872
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-08-13
• Publisher: Stenhouse Pub

Summary

"I believe in the power of collaborative classroom communities where everyone's ideas are valued and respected. But had you been in my classroom that day, you'd have never known it. You'd have thought I believed that I was the one with all the answers."Effective, intentional teaching begins with a strong set of beliefs, but even the best teachers -- including Debbie Miller -- struggle to make sure that their classroom practice consistently reflects their core convictions. InTeaching with Intention, Debbie shares her process of defining beliefs, aligning practice, and taking action to ensure that children are the true beneficiaries of her teaching. As Peter Johnston writes, "Through this book we have Debbie's teaching mind on loan. She engages us in the details of a teaching life from inside her mind, showing the thinking behind her teaching and the consequences of her actions."While Debbie's previous book,Reading with Meaning,chronicled a year in her own classroom,Teaching with Intentionbrings us into classrooms of teachers and children she has met over the last five years in her work as a literacy consultant. From setting up the classroom environment to the intentional use of language, from comprehension instruction to lesson design, Debbie is explicit about what she does and why. At the same time, she encourages teachers to develop their own belief statements concerning teaching and learning, and includes key questions to guide them in this important process.In an environment where the handing down of scripted programs and "foolproof" curricula is increasingly the norm,Teaching with Intentionoffers a compelling reminder that truly transformative teaching is built from the ground up, and is rebuilt every year, by every teacher, in every classroom, with every new group of students.

Author Biography

Debbie Miller is a staff developer with the Denver-based Public Education and Business Coalition. She is also an adjunct professor at Regis University.

Table of Contents

Welcome, reader!	p. 1
Picture perfect : how does your ideal classroom look, sound, and feel?	p. 9
Defining beliefs and aligning practices	p. 15
Environment, environment, environment	p. 23
Creating classroom cultures that support and promote student thinking	p. 43
Swimming with sharks : teaching for understanding and engagement	p. 65
Lesson design : creating lessons based on principles and practices you believe in	p. 79
Assessment, reflections, and next steps	p. 97
The thoughtful use of time	p. 105
And remember ...	p. 125
Commentary	p. 129
Lesson design tool	p. 137
Children's literature	p. 141
References	p. 143
Index	p. 145
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