Bringing together leading experts, this book presents the principles of effective literacy leadership and describes proven methods for improving instruction, assessment, and schoolwide professional development. The book shows how all school staff--including reading specialists and coaches, administrators, teachers, and special educators--can play an active role in nurturing a culture of collaboration and promoting student achievement. Best practices are identified for creating strong elementary and secondary literacy programs, differentiating instruction, supporting English language learners, utilizing technology, building home-school partnerships, and much more. User-friendly features include case examples, guiding questions, and engagement activities in each chapter.

Table of Contents

Part I: Multiple Roles in School Leadership. Bean, Literacy Leadership in a Culture of Collaboration. Dagen, Nichols, Teachers as Literacy Leaders. L'Allier, Elish-Piper, Literacy Coaches in Elementary Schools. Ippolito, Lieberman, Reading Specialists and Literacy Coaches in Secondary Schools. Zigmond, Kloo, The Role of the Special Educator: A Balancing Act. Walpole, McKenna, Principals as Literacy Leaders. Part II: What Literacy Leaders Need to Know about Literacy. McGill-Franzen, Jordan, Emergent Literacy. Dole, Nelsom, Literacy Leadership in the Elementary School Reading Program. Anders, Clift, Adolescent Language, Literacy, and Learning: Implications for a Schoolwide Literacy Program. Hoffman, Sailors, Establishing a Print-Rich Classroom and School Environment. Mesmer, Jones, Catherwood, Lester, Differentiating Literacy Instruction. Skerrett, Hersi, Culturally Responsive Literacy Instruction. Vogt, English Learners: Developing Their Literate Lives. Lane, Moore, Literacy Assessment in Schools. Part III: Perspectives on Special Issues. Castek, Gwinn, Technology in the Literacy Program. Paratore, Steiner, Dougherty, Developing Effective Home-School Literacy Partnerships. Woulfin, Coburn, Policy Implementation: The Path from Reading Policy to Classroom Practice. Bean, Dagen, Schools as Places of Learning: The Powerful Role of Literacy Leaders.

About the Author

Edited by Rita M. Bean, PhD, Professor Emerita, School of Education, University of Pittsburgh, USA; and Allison Swan Dagen, PhD, College of Human Resources and Education, West Virginia University, USA

Reviews

"This is a timely and much-needed volume that will be a catalyst for improving classroom practice and student learning. Bean and Dagen provide evidence-based information about the power and importance of effective literacy leadership. The book is very practical, yet soundly based on good theory. The core message is that literacy leadership should be shared by many and functions most effectively in a culture of collaboration. The contributing authors are luminaries in the field who provide excellent case examples and engagement activities that will make this a sought-after text for graduate literacy courses." - Linda B. Gambrell, Distinguished Professor of Education, Clemson University, USA "Bean and Swan Dagen have brought together a list of literacy professionals that reads like a 'who's who' of literacy instruction, and have provided a vision of leadership and a chapter format that make this book an outstanding tool for learning. Guiding questions, case examples, engagement activities, and a research review are part of each chapter. The case examples allow readers to make immediate connections between research and practice. This will be the book of choice for professionals who want to combine sound content knowledge with leadership savvy." - Cathy Roller, former Director of Research and Policy, International Reading Association, USA