English Leadership Quarterly - Volume 39, Issue 2, 2016

Rememberances of Bil Chinn, secretary for the CEL Executive Committee and chair of the Emerging Leaders Fellowship Program.

The author discusses a reading course designed to change students’ attitudes about reading that contains two key characteristics: a learning environment built on mutual interests and an atmosphere of ongoing learning. Most importantly, the texts were chosen purely by student interest.The result: Sports English.

Using an approach that integrates the work of both Penny Kittle and Donalyn Miller, the author builds a classroom reading community based on student choice.

Lena Marie Rockwood, Susie Highley, Connie Rockow, and Stacey Lindes talk with ELQ editor Oona Abrams about creating a digital reading community.

The authors’ research shows that preservice teachers can develop more confidence and make more meaningful culturally responsive connections with texts and with their secondary students if they use young adult literature in methods courses.

The author has great success in her classroom when she teaches works from the “canon” alongside more contemporary works that cover the same themes.

ELQ editor Oona Abrams offers a short list of ways to grab professional development without breaking the budget (yours OR your district’s).