Fostering Learner Independence: An Essential Guide for K-6 Educators

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SAGE Publications, 2009 - Education - 219 pages
"While every teacher's goal is to help students become independent thinkers, determining exactly how to lead students toward self-sufficiency can be a challenge. This straightforward resource invites teachers to reflect on their philosophy of teaching and learning, and helps identify the key ingredients for creating a classroom that promotes student success and independence. Teachers will discover how to build on student strengths and interests and provide authentic learning experiences. The book includes checklists, examples, and tips, and shows readers how to: identify practices that hinder independence as well as those that foster student self-sufficiency; engage learners so they can contribute information about how and what they want to learn; promote development of good work habits, self-motivation, resiliency, and peer-to-peer problem solving; strengthen students' critical thinking and inquiry skills and incorporate differentiation and formative assessments."--Publisher's website.

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Contents

Structuring for Learner Independence
27
Teaching That Promotes Independence
33
Expectations and Communication
55
Copyright

16 other sections not shown

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About the author (2009)

Roxann Rose-Duckworth is an innovative elementary and middle school teacher, college instructor to preservice educators, and respected educational consultant. Rose-Duckworth has nearly fifteen years experience working with students in kindergarten through sixth grade in three different states. She was recognized for her creative and effective teaching strategies in 1996 when the Walt Disney Company honored her dedication to her students as one of 36 teachers chosen nationwide to be honored by Disney’s American Teacher Awards. Rose-Duckworth’s teaching was highlighted in The Creative Classroom Project, a video series by Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Project Zero (1999-2004). She has presented at national conferences for both ASCD and IRA and published articles in NCTE’s Primary Voices. In 2006, Rose-Duckworth co-authored The Teaching Experience: An Introduction to Reflective Practice (Pearson). She enjoys preparing future teachers for tomorrow’s classrooms and working with current teachers to help them reflect on and improve their teaching practices. Rose-Duckworth takes an active role in North Sound Reading Council, her local International Reading Association affiliated organization. Karin Ramer is a reflective and respected elementary school teacher and educational consultant. She has taught kindergarten through third grade, reading recovery, Title I, and special education. Aside from teaching in the classroom, she has effectively worked as a mentor, literacy coach, and staff development facilitator at the elementary level. Her passion is teaching students and guiding educators as they reflect on best practices. Currently, Ramer works as an educational consultant in Oregon and Washington, aiming to enhance understandings about literacy and learner independence. Over the last ten years, she has presented for conferences sponsored by the Western Literacy & Reading Recovery(R), The Learning Network(R), and Washington Organization for Reading Development (WORD).

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