Comprehensive Literacy Basics: An Anthology by Capstone Professional

Teaching English language arts at grades K-5 is both a science and an art. Educators must teach literacy skills and content with best practices, while also keeping focus on each student’s individual needs. They are challenged to monitor students working independently while also conducting small group instruction. And they must focus on providing differentiated support with a rather complicated text. With increased attention to rigor, requirements, and personalized instruction, it can be a challenge to make sure all students are receiving instruction that is just right. Comprehensive Literacy Basics: An Anthology by Capstone Professional contains useful tips to support educators. Chapters focus on each part of the literacy and language arts block, including whole group, small group, writing, and differentiation. A collection of expert authors specializing in literacy and language arts instruction contributed chapters to the book. The quick tips and suggestions within will reinforce current practices while providing an invaluable go-to reference. FAMIS 92539

Kathy Brown enjoys teaching our youngest learners in the wonderful world of kindergarten. Her passion for early literacy instruction was ignited in 1987 when she did her student teaching in Australia. Her action research entitled Ladders to Literacy was published in 1998 after she earned her Master's Degree from Aurora University. She is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in the area of Early and Middle Childhood Literacy: Reading- Language Arts. She is also the co-author of Kindergarten and the Common Core: It's as Easy as ABC which won Learning Magazine's 2015 Teacher's Choice Award for outstanding professional development resource. Kathy has been a kindergarten teacher for 28 years in West Aurora School District #129 and currently works at Fearn Elementary School. She was a nominee for the Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching Award from WGN and the Disney's American Teacher Award. She has also been a presenter on the state, local, university and international level for the past 11 years. She is passionate about sharing her love of teaching young children at early childhood conferences everywhere! Most recently, she has presented for NAEYC in Dallas and Orlando, the I Teach Conference in Las Vegas, the annual IASCD Pre- K- Kdg Conference and the International Literacy Association Conference in St. Louis. Kathy lives in Aurora, Illinois and looks forward to the time she spends with her husband Dave and their two daughters, Ashley and Becky.

Sarah Martino is a kindergarten teacher, author, conference presenter and kindergarten intervention teacher. She is the co-author of Kindergarten and the Common Core: It's as Easy as ABC which won Learning Magazine's 2015 Teacher's Choice Award for outstanding professional development resource. She has also written teacher's guides for educational materials. Sarah has been a kindergarten teacher and intervention teacher for 15 years. Sarah received her Master's Degree in Literacy in 2004. She focused her action research on writing in kindergarten. Sarah currently works at Country Trails Elementary School in CUSD 301. She works with students and teachers at the school site to implement and improve literacy instruction. She was a nominee for the Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching Award from WGN. In addition to her site-based job, Sarah has been presenting for the past 11 years at state, university, local and international level. Most recently, she has presented for NAEYC in Orlando and Dallas, the I Teach Conference in Las Vegas, the annual IASCD Pre- K- Kdg Conference and the International Literacy Association Conference in St. Louis. Sarah lives in Elgin, Illinois with her husband Mike, her step-daughter Alexis and their two sons, Trevor and Owen.

Dr. Nancy Witherell is a professor in the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education at Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts, where she teaches literacy courses and is coordinator of student teachers for the department. Nancy is past president of her local reading council, the Massachusetts Association of College and University Reading Educators, and the Massachusetts Reading Association (MRA). In addition, Nancy has been MRA's State co-coordinator for the International Literacy Association (formerly IRA) for the past three years. Nancy has presented at numerous regional and national conferences. Besides the publication of numerous articles in such journals as The New England Reading Association Journal and The Reading Teacher, Nancy has co-authored seven books and solo-authored two books.