Language Arts: Patterns of Practice

For courses in Language Arts Methods for the Elementary School.

With a powerful new CD-ROM, this sixth edition of the number one language arts text on the market offers comprehensive treatment of four classic instructional approaches to integrating all six research-identified language arts into school curricula. Calling approaches “patterns of practice,” the author adroitly combines them into a seamless presentation that will show prospective teachers how to foster and encourage language arts learning by students of all backgrounds, abilities, and interests. Thorough discussions are bolstered by specific coverage of strategies and skills; and, all are enriched by real classroom vignettes, authentic student artifacts, and the insight culled from the author's many years of experience.

Gail Tompkins. I have spent my life teaching. Currently I teach as a professor at California State University, Fresno, where I was awarded the Provost's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Prior to that I taught at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, where 1 received the Regents' Award for Superior Teaching; Miami University of Ohio; and before that I taught elementary school in Virginia for 8 years. Today I direct the San Joaquin Valley Writing Project and work regularly with teachers, both by teaching model lessons in classrooms and by leading staff development programs.

Every day, I write. Language Arts: Patterns of Practice is one of six texts I author for Merrill Education. I am also a contributing author for three other Merrill texts, and I've written numerous articles related to reading and language arts for The Reading Teacher,

Arts, and other professsional journals. For both teaching and writing I was recently honoured with an induction to California Reading Association's Reading Hall of Fame.

Teaching and writing are my life, as quilting is my hobby. I use a quilt design to carry the theme of this text. Many users recognized the underlying message embedded in this theme-effective language arts instruction weaves the teaching of the language arts into the whole curriculum, and acknowledges that instructional strategies and practices must meet the needs of the diverse language and multicultural backgrounds of students. Just like a quilt, the pieces come together to form a complete whole. To help me convey this message, I have enlisted the help of quilter Lawrence Martin and designer Linda Bronson, whose beautiful craft you can see on the cover of this text as well as inside the book.

Lawrence Martin. I spent my childhood in Morocco, Africa. Morocco is a land of deep saturated colours and this is reflected in the fine craftsmanship produced in ceramics, fabric, wood, clay, glass, leather, wool, and many others. When I began quilting and painting ten years ago, to my own amazement, I saw colours and shapes from my childhood surface in my work.

A self-taught artist, I practice several forms of art. Creating is as vital to my soul as breathing is to my body, and I love discovering what emerges from deep within me. I remain in awe with the process. I love colours, fabrics, and threads of all sorts! I enjoy playing with them and at some point in the process they become quilts. Starting a new project is always exciting, as I never know what the end result will look like. You can view more of my quilts at www.laurencemartin.ca

Linda Bronson. I grew up on the hustling bustling Jersey Shore, spending summers at the beach covering my brother up to his neck in sand and decorating him to look like a starfish. At home I played dress up and ran around the backyard pretending to be Wonder Woman, and my mom taught me how to draw.

It wasn't until attending art college at the Rhode Island School of Design that I truly blossomed. Suddenly, I was expected to spend all of my time making art! What a treat! I was like a kid in a candy shop! I took so many interesting classes―everything from photography and graphic design to stained glass and ceramics! I learned that an artist could make a career out of doing what they love!

Nowadays, you can find my paintings in picture books, magazines, advertisements, posters and greeting cards. I think I have the world's best job! You can see more of my work at www.lindabronson.com