Powerful Book Introductions: Leading with Meaning for Deeper Thinking

Effective book introductions during guided reading set the stage for young readers to navigate new texts independently and successfully and often shape the outcome of small-group lessons. Many teachers struggle with decisions about what these introductions should address, what they should include, and how to conduct them. Powerful Book Introductions: Leading with Meaning for Deeper Thinking literacy leaders Kathleen Fay, Chrisie Moritz, and Suzanne Whaley speak to these concerns by taking a close look at the purposeful planning that goes into preparing for this small but vital part of today's guided reading lessons. Through relatable classroom examples and the wisdom of their shared teaching experiences, the authors show you how to:

• Select texts for your small-group lessons specifically based on your students' needs
• Amplify meaning-making from the first moments of your guided reading book introductions and maintain this emphasis
• Introduce visual and structural information to support your readers in meaning-making

No matter where you are in your understanding of guided reading, Powerful Book Introductions will help you as you learn to craft student-centered, meaning-driven book introductions that prepare your readers for success.

Kathleen Fay is the Literacy Collaborative District Trainer for Fairfax County Public Schools. She has served as a Reading Recovery teacher and a Title I literacy coach and is a National Board certified teacher. Kathleen and Suzanne previously collaborated to write Becoming One Community: Reading and Writing with English Language Learners (Stenhouse 2004).

Chrisie Moritz is a National Board certified literacy coach in Fairfax County, Virginia. She presents at conferences and consults with school districts across the country on various topics related to literacy instruction. Chrisie has served as a Reading Recovery teacher, a Literacy Collaborative District Trainer, and an adjunct professor at East Carolina University. Board certified teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia, where she was a classroom teacher and literacy specialist for twenty-two years. She currently leads the literacy professional development for reading specialists, principals, school teams, and teachers in her district.

Suzanne Whaley is a National Board certified teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia, where she was a classroom teacher and literacy specialist for twenty-two years. She currently leads the literacy professional development for reading specialists, principals, school teams, and teachers in her district.