Read, Discuss, and Learn: Using Literacy Groups to Student Advantage

"Lisa A. Fisher understands that choice drives engagement. She appreciates that giving students time to talk about their reading not only improves comprehension but also builds life-long readers."---Cris Tovani, secondary teacher, Centennial, Colorado

"This book will be very helpful to beginning teachers or anyone interested in using literature circles in their classroom. The use of actual student dialogues is stimulating and very informative. It would be impossible for any educator to read this book and not become excited about literature circles."---Renee Burdick, elementary teacher and preservice education mentor, Pasco County Public Schools, Florida

"Whether it's your first year teaching or your twentieth year, this text is the perfect guide to enhance your literacy instruction. Read, Discuss, and Learn includes the essential information you need for differentiated instruction and for meeting your students' needs through literacy groups. In addition to the fundamentals of literacy groups, it includes cooperative learning techniques, criteria on appropriate text selection, ELL and ESE modifications, cross-curriculum suggestions, and assessments fostering student growth. Read, Discuss, and Learn is a must-have for all teachers everywhere!"---Maria Ortega, elementary teacher and preservice education mentor, Hillsborough County Public Schools, Florida

Literacy groups promote discussion and learning through the exploration of text, but many educators are hesitant to adopt them. For current and future secondary teachers, administrators, and curriculum directors, Read, Discuss, and Learn provides support and guidance so educators can confidently involve students within the learning process at a deep level. This is a practical resource guide that walks teachers through the use of literacy groups within their classrooms over a typical 365-day journey of secondary students. The author provides educators with the tools to think about literacy groups, to create literacy groups, and to design the best assessment to adequately evaluate students' comprehension and mastery of new content.

Lisa A. Fisher is adjunct instructor for Pasco-Hernando Community College, where she teaches remedial reading courses for college-bound adults. She has been a reading teacher and then a reading coach at a middle school in Pasco County. She currently serves as a literacy coach at a high school.