The Literacy Teacher's Playbook, Grades 3-6: Four Steps for Turning Assessment Data Into Goal-Directed Instruction

“The aim of The Literacy Teacher’s Playbook,” writes Jennifer Serravallo, “is to help you collect data that is helpful, analyse the data correctly, and make plans based on that data.”

National and state standards set learning goals, and it’s up to you to help each student find his or her path to meeting them. That’s why Jen opens up her thinking on assessment in this workshop-in-a-book. Her four-step protocol leads you toward goal-directed instruction:

• collect the data that will be the most useful to you
• analyse the data to understand deeply what kids know and can do
• synthesise data from multiple assessments to create learning goals
• develop instructional plans and follow-ups to monitor progress.

“What you can pull out of a student’s messy desk is actually data,” Jen writes. So she provides downloadable assessment packets from real students representing two puzzling types of learners. Spread Joana’s packet out and let Jen model her protocol. Next try a guided practice with Alex’s work. Then you’ll be ready to try it with your own students.

Trust The Literacy Teacher’s Playbook to discover that assessment isn’t about numbers and letters. It’s about relying on an assessment procedure that helps you know each and every one of your students, so you can teach with confidence and make a difference.

SamplesPreview sample pages from The Literacy Teacher's Playbook, Grades 3-6.

Jennifer Serravallo is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Reading Strategies Book and The Writing Strategies Book, which have been translated into Spanish, French, and Chinese. These and her other popular books and resources help teachers make goal-directed responsive strategy instruction, conferring, and small group work doable in every classroom. Her newest titles are Teaching Writing in Small Groups, A Teacher's Guide to Reading Conferences, Understanding Texts and Readers, and the assessment and teaching resource Complete Comprehension for Fiction and Nonfiction. Jen is a frequently invited speaker at national and regional conferences and travels throughout the US and Canada to provide full-day workshops and to work with teachers and students in classrooms. She is also an experienced online educator who regularly offers live webinar series and full-day online workshops, and is the creator of two self-paced asynchronous online courses, most recently Strategies in Action: Reading and Writing Methods and Content. Jen began her career in education as an NYC public school teacher. Now as a consultant, she has spent the last fifteen+ years helping teachers across the country create literacy classrooms where students are joyfully engaged, and the instruction is meaningfully individualized to students' goals. Jen is also a member of Parents Magazine Board of Advisors for education and literacy. Jen holds a BA from Vassar College and an MA from Teachers College, where she has also taught graduate and undergraduate classes. Learn more about Jen and her work at Hein.pub/serravallo, on Twitter @jserravallo, on Instagram @jenniferserravallo, or by joining The Reading and Writing Strategies Facebook Community.

Save 15% with a Book Study Bundle! This book is about being empowered by assessment, not bogged down by it. -Jennifer Serravallo "The aim of The Literacy Teacher's Playbook," writes Jennifer Serravallo, "is to help you collect data that is helpful, analyze the data correctly, and make plans based on that data." National and state standards set learning goals, and it's up to you to help each student find his or her path to meeting them. That's why Jen opens up her thinking on assessment in this workshop-in-a-book. Her four-step protocol leads you toward goal-directed instruction: collect the data that will be the most useful to you analyze the data to understand deeply what kids know and can do synthesize data from multiple assessments to create learning goals develop instructional plans and follow-ups to monitor progress. "What you can pull out of a student's messy desk is actually data," Jen writes. So she provides downloadable assessment packets from real students representing two puzzling types of learners. Spread Joana's packet out and let Jen model her protocol. Next try a guided practice with Alex's work. Then you'll be ready to try it with your own students. Trust The Literacy Teacher's Playbook to discover that assessment isn't about numbers and letters. It's about relying on an assessment procedure that helps you know each and every one of your students, so you can teach with confidence and make a difference. Read a sample chapter from The Literacy Teacher's Playbook.

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