Variability Not Disability: Struggling Readers in a Workshop Classroom - Softcover

Roller, Cathy M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0872071421 ISBN 13: 9780872071421

Publisher: Intl Literacy Assn, 1996

Synopsis

Shifting the focus to ability rather than disability, this inspirational account provides readers with a new perspective and new ideas on the challenging, often frustrating, task of finding an instructional approach that is flexible enough to accommodate the wide variance in students' abilities. Author Cathy Roller lays out a practical, day-to-day instructional framework for working with struggling readers in a workshop setting. She explains the research supporting workshop-style instruction and shares work examples based on 6 years' experience as a faculty director of the University of Iowa's summer reading program.

About this title

From the Back Cover

This book is the story of the author's experiences at the University of Iowa summer reading program from 1988 to 1994 and the children she teaches, who are all viewed as "reading disabled." The children range in age from 8 to 12 years and in reading ability from recognizing fewer than 15 words to reading at a late second or early third grade level. The summer reading program, which operates as a workshop classroom, emphasizes children's abilities and assumes they can do many things, including learn to read.

Roller describes how to implement a workshop format for instruction, which is flexible enough to accommodate the wide variability in students' abilities. She explains the research supporting this type of instruction, includes chapters on direct instruction and writing, and outlines her record-keeping system. "Variability Not Disability" will appeal to elementary and middle school classroom teachers and is also timely and important work for reading specialists, special education teachers, and others who work with struggling readers and writers.

About the Author

Cathy M. Roller is a Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.

Edition details

• Publisher: Intl Literacy Assn
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0872071421
• ISBN 13: 9780872071421
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 160