Gallagher - In the best interest of students: staying true to what works in the ELA classroom

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IN THE BEST INTEREST OF STUDENTS

Staying True to What Works in the ELA Classroom

Kelly Gallagher

Copyright 2015 by Kelly Gallagher

All rights reserved. This e-book is intended for individual use only. You can print a copy for your own personal use and you can access this e-book on multiple personal devices (i.e. computer, e-reader, smartphone). You may not reproduce digital copies to share with others, post a digital copy on a server or a website, make photocopies for others, or transmit in any form by any other means, electronic or mechanical, without permission from the publisher.

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Credits

: Republished with permission of University of California Press, from NASA History and the Challenge of Keeping the Contemporary Past by Roger D. Launius, The Public Historian, Vol. 21, Issue 3, Summer 1999; permission conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.

: By Gaia Russo, published in Russia Beyond the Headlines.

: Edward Hopper, Nighthawks, 1942, Oil on Canvas, 84.1 152.4 cm (33 1/8 60 in.), Friends of American Art Collection, 1942.51, The Art Institute of Chicago.

: Courtesy of ESPN the Magazine.

: George Strock/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

: From The New York Times, 9/2/2012 2012 The New York Times. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of this Content without express written permission is prohibited.

: A Few Disclaimers on the Fourth Amendment by Leonard Pitts Jr.: From The Miami Herald, January 14, 2014 2014 McClatchy. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of this Content without express written permission is prohibited.

: A Hundred Words to Talk of Death by Neil Gaiman: Copyright Neil Gaiman 2006.

: The New Yorker Magazine/Barry Blitt/Conde Nast

: Associated Press/Sue Ogrocki

: Tom Cheney/The New Yorker Magazine/Conde Nast

: From THE NEW YORK TIMES UPFRONT. Copyright by Scholastic Inc. Reprinted by permission of Scholastic Inc.

: Reprinted with permission of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education and the Southern Regional Education Board.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gallagher, Kelly, 1958

In the best interest of students : staying true to what works in the ELA classroom / Kelly Gallagher.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 9781-62531-044-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) -- ISBN 9781-62531-045-3 (ebook)

1. Language arts (Elementary)--Standards--United States. 2. Language arts (Secondary)--Standards--United States. 3. Educational accountability--United States. 4. United States. No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. I. Title.

LB1576.G295 2015

372.6--dc23

2014033956

Cover and interior design by Lucian Burg, Lu Design Studios, Portland, ME www.ludesignstudios.com

For Big Jim

Watching the Major League Baseball All-Star game this week made me appreciative of the all-star team who helped to make this book possible. The lineup:

Owner: Philippa Stratton, for being the Abner Doubleday of education publishing.

General Manager: Dan Tobin, for his expert guidance of the franchise.

Front Office: Rebecca Eaton, Chuck Lerch, Chris Downey, Jay Kilburn, Jill Cooley, Nate the Great Butler, Chandra Lowe, Zsofia McMullin, Pam King, Lise Wood, Elaine Cyr, and anyone else behind the scenes at Stenhouse for their work in supporting this book. Special kudos as well to Lucian Burg for his design of this book and to Erin Trainer for her keen copyediting skills.

My agent: my wife, Kristin, whose immeasurable behind-the-scenes support, as always, keeps me up and running. No way this book happens without her. My love to Caitlin and Devin as well.

Manager: Bill Varner, my editor at Stenhouse, for making the right moves on our sixth book together.

Pitcher: Penny Kittle, for her persistent pitches from afar, which motivated me to start writing again, and for her wise feedback on some early sections of this book. Nulla Dies Sine Linea.

Catcher: Deborah Kenny, founder of the Harlem Village Academies, for carrying on the fight despite all the problems thrown at herand for inviting me to work with her teachers.

1B: Ariella Diamond, principal of Harlem Village Academy East Middle, for her enthusiastic support. Ariella, if you are wondering why I placed you at first base, ask Jess.

2B: Jeff Anderson, for no other reason than that I once promised him I would always mention him in my books.

SS: Robert Cunard, principal of Magnolia High School in Anaheim, California, for his slick fielding of my leave of absence request. My appreciation goes to the Education Division of the AUHSD as well.

3B: Jason Epting, principal of Harlem Village Academy West Middle, for his ability to handle anything hit his way, as well as for his graciousness and overall awesomeness.

LF: Donna Santman, for challenging my thinking, and for the deep influence she has had in the writing of this book. Donna, I remain awed by your intellect and courage. You should almost be listed as coauthor of this book. Almost.