Developing Literacy

Readers gain a firm understanding of why they are teaching, who they are teaching, and what they are teaching, including essential elements of reading and traits of writing. Readers also learn how to teach literacy.

This unique book helps teachers see the “big picture” and consistently implement what they know in the classroom. Organized into three sections covering the foundations of literacy, the components of literacy, and literacy assessment and instruction, the book gives readers important information on reading and writing in every chapter. It shows the connections with the Common Core State Standards and includes practical “Try This for Teaching” and “Try This for Professional Development” boxes that present ready-to-use activities and ideas for applying the book’s concepts. Samples of teacher and student work further illuminate the concepts.

Timothy G. Morrison and Brad Wilcox are associate professors in the Department of Teacher Education at Brigham Young University, where they teach undergraduate and graduate courses in reading, language arts, and children’s literature. They both earned their BA and MEd degrees at Brigham Young University. Tim received his PhD at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Brad at the University of Wyoming.

Prior to joining the faculty at BYU, Tim served as a faculty member at Boise State University and California State University-Fresno.  Early in their careers, Tim taught grades four, five, and six in Pocatello, Idaho and third grade in Springville, Utah, and Brad taught sixth grade in Provo, Utah. More recently, they have both done extensive consulting throughout the U.S., as well as in Central America, Australia, and Europe. They have directed BYU’s New Zealand Study Abroad Program, living in Auckland, where they taught and supervised teacher candidates in practicum settings.

Morrison and Wilcox’s research and professional writing focuses on literacy, teacher education, and children’s literature. They have served as editors for the professional publications of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers (ALER) and have published articles in many professional journals including Literacy Research and Instruction, Reading Psychology, The Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, and The Reading Teacher. 

Tim and his wife, Carol, are the parents of three grown sons and four grandchildren. Brad and his wife, Debi, have four children and three grandchildren.

In this comprehensive view of all of the elements essential to developing effective literacy, teachers see how to gradually release responsibility for reading and writing from themselves to their students. The book shows the "big picture" and helps readers gain a firm understanding of why they are teaching, who they are teaching, and what they are teaching, including essential elements of reading and traits of writing. Readers also learn how to teach literacy. The book is packed with invaluable information for: Focusing on children's literacy development and how it can be fostered along with teachers' professional development . Gradually releasing responsibility for reading and writing from teachers to their students. Understanding all major aspects of reading and writing instruction through comprehensive coverage of speaking and listening, language conventions, English language learners, struggling students, and new literacies integrated throughout the book, rather than isolated in separate chapters. Icons in the margins help readers recognize where these connections are made. Locating and applying Common Core Standards and IRA standards. Icons in the margins direct readers to specific connections throughout the book and the inside covers list the Standards with references to specific chapters in the book. Reinforcing comprehension through easy-to-follow steps for immediate practice and practical application of the concepts in the text's unique "Try This for Teaching" and "Try This for Professional Development" boxes which include teaching activities and ideas located in each chapter.

Here is a comprehensive view of all of the elements that are essential to developing effective literacy and providing the necessary gradual release of responsibility for reading and writing from teachers to students. Developing Literacy by Morrison and Wilcox gives teachers the "big picture" and helps them consistently implement what they know about reading and writing. It shows the connections with the Common Core State Standards and the IRA Standards, includes unique "Try This for Teaching" and "Try This for Professional Development" boxes to help apply the concepts, and features samples of teacher and student work to further illuminate the concepts.

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