Common Core English Language Arts in a PLC at WorkTM, Grades K-2 - Softcover

Douglas Fisher, PhD, is professor of language and literacy education in the Department of Teacher Education at San Diego State University and a classroom teacher at Health Sciences High and Middle College. He teaches preservice courses in literacy and English language learners, graduate courses in reading instruction and intervention, and doctoral courses in policy, research, and literacy. As a classroom teacher, Dr. Fisher focuses on English language arts instruction. He was director of professional development for the City Heights Educational Collaborative and also taught English at Hoover High School.

Dr. Fisher received an International Reading Association Celebrate Literacy Award for his work on literacy leadership. For his work as codirector of the City Heights Professional Development Schools, Dr. Fisher received the Christa McAuliffe award. He was corecipient of the Farmer Award for excellence in writing from the National Council of Teachers of English for the article, "Using Graphic Novels, Anime, and the Internet in an Urban High School," published in The English Journal.

Dr. Fisher has written numerous articles on reading and literacy, differentiated instruction, and curriculum design. His books include Creating Literacy-Rich Schools for Adolescents, Checking for Understanding, Better Learning Through Structured Teaching, and Content-Area Conversations.

He earned a bachelor's degree in communication, a master's degree in public health, an executive master s degree in business, and a doctoral degree in multicultural education. Dr. Fisher completed post-doctoral study at the National Association of State Boards of Education focused on standards-based reforms.

Nancy Frey, PhD, is a professor of literacy in the School of Teacher Education at San Diego State University. Through the university's teacher-credentialing and reading specialist programs, she teaches courses on elementary and secondary reading instruction and literacy in content areas, classroom management, and supporting students with diverse learning needs. Dr. Frey also teaches classes at Health Sciences High and Middle College in San Diego. She is a board member of the California Reading Association and a credentialed special educator and reading specialist in California.

Before joining the university faculty, Dr. Frey was a public school teacher in Florida. She worked at the state level for the Florida Inclusion Network helping districts design systems for supporting students with disabilities in general education classrooms.

She is the recipient of the 2008 Early Career Achievement Award from the National Reading Conference and the Christa McAuliffe Award for excellence in teacher education from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. She was corecipient of the Farmer Award for excellence in writing from the National Council of Teachers of English for the article, "Using Graphic Novels, Anime, and the Internet in an Urban High School."

Dr. Frey is coauthor of Checking for Understanding, Better Learning Through Structured Teaching, and Content-Area Conversations. She has written articles for The Reading Teacher, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, The English Journal, Voices in the Middle, Middle School Journal, Remedial and Special Education, and Educational Leadership.

Change has come to the English language arts in the form of Common Core State Standards. Change can be good if it is implemented by knowledgeable professionals who have a deep understanding of the nature, intent, and instructional methods that underlay the standards. My colleagues in literacy Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey have integrated the standards with the work of professional learning communities in order to create a vehicle for making the language arts standards come to life in schools and classrooms. This is a book that will make a positive difference in the literacy lives of students and teachers. --Timothy V. Rasinski, Professor of Reading Education, Kent State University

This book on the Common Core State Standards for K-2 is a must-read for educators, supervisors, and coaches who work at these grade levels. The authors provide a rationale for the importance of the standards and give practical suggestions for implementation. Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey are outstanding academics in the field of literacy today. --Lesley Mandel Morrow, Professor of Literacy, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey; coeditor of Teaching With the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts, PreK 2

This is an essential guide for K-2 teachers and literacy leaders. Fisher and Frey masterfully capture the changes in English language arts standards as a result of the Common Core. They offer timely and collaborative recommendations for effectively responding to those changes in ways that strengthen professional learning communities. --Maryann Mraz, Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte