When children write, they think. When children think, they expand their world. When children write and think, they increase their literacy, their scholastic ability, their self-esteem, and their conception of who they are and who they can become.

Before any of this can occur, however, children must write--and they must write often and in a supportive environment.

As teachers of literacy how can we best help children to write? How can we create a structured, resource-filled context in which children can increase their understanding of writing, language, and thinking?

Guiding K-3 Writers to Independence: The New Essentials provides a wealth of knowledge to help you achieve these goals. The chapters are written by a group of colleagues at The Ohio State University who work together to implement comprehensive literacy programs in elementary schools. They provide a wide range of information about the teaching of writing from kindergarten to grade three. Taken together, this book illustrates what effective writing instruction looks like when children have the opportunity to engage daily in the construction of written text with the support of a knowledgeable teacher.

• Contents -- Guiding K-3 Writers to Independence: The New Essentials (PDF)
• Order Form -- Guiding K-3 Writers to Independence: The New Essentials (PDF)
• Study Guide -- Guiding K-3 Writers to Independence: The New Essentials (PDF)

How can teachers support students' comprehension during guided reading? Shared reading? Read aloud sessions? Independent reading?

These questions and more are answered in Extending Our Reach: Comprehension in Reading, Grades K-2.

Chapter topics include techniques to support comprehension strategies, classroom organization, scheduling instruction, book introductions, teaching for fluency, extending the meaning of texts, and interactive read-aloud. Each chapter ends with "Ideas to Try"-just right for teacher study groups or in-service sessions.

• Contents-- Extending Our Reach: Teaching for Comprehension in Reading, Grades K-2 (PDF)
• Order Form-- Extending Our Reach: Teaching for Comprehension in Reading, Grades K-2 (PDF)