Summer break is a great time for teachers and principals to participate in professional development. Today I'm sharing eight eBooks teachers can download and read this summer to improve grammar and writing instruction. 

1. Teaching Grammar and Writing at the Elementary Grades

When students understand the standards of written English, they can make appropriate choices about grammar, usage, and mechanics to improve their writing. In the Best Practices for Teaching Grammar and Writing at the Elementary Grades eBook, Dr. Chin outlines effective strategies for teaching grammar and writing to students in grades 3–5.

2. The Role of Grammar In Improving Students' Writing

While students may be effective speakers of English, they need guidance to become effective writers.  They need to learn how to transfer their knowledge of grammatical concepts from oral language to written language. In The Role of Grammar In Improving Students' Writing eBook, Dr. Chin outlines the strategies to teaching grammar and how grammar contributes to the developing students’ writing.

3. Teaching Meaningful Revision: Developing Students' Writing

Teaching revision is crucial to the development of all students’ writing abilities. Revision is the stage in which students grow as writers, readers, and thinkers. In the Teaching Meaningful Revision: Developing and Deepening Students' Writing eBook, Dr. Chin outlines five strategies teachers can use to help students become better writers and revisionists while meeting the expectations of the CCSS. 

4. Teaching Writing in the Context of Common Core

The purpose of writing instruction is to help students become competent, confident writers in school, work settings and throughout life. In the Teaching Writing in the Context of Common Core State Standards eBook, Dr. Chin outlines five strategies teachers can use to help students become better writers and meet the expectations of the CCSS.

5. Engaging Middle/High School Students in Writing and Grammar

As teachers seek to balance instruction in the development and organization of ideas with choices in language fluency and correctness, they often ask, “What is the relationship between writing instruction and grammar? How is grammar addressed in standards and evaluated in large-scale assessments?” In the Engaging Middle/High School Students in Writing and Grammar eBook, Dr. Chin reviews the research that will help answer these and other questions on grammar and writing instruction.

6. Literacy and Learning Centers: Not Just for the Primary Grades

When most teachers think of learning centers, they think of “stations” in K–3 classrooms. Learn about how Dr. McKnight has been successful using learning centers in middle school and high school classrooms all over the country–in public, private, and parochial schools; in rural, urban, and suburban districts. She has been effective with gifted students, high-poverty students, students with special needs, ethnically diverse students, and English language learners. Download Dr. McKnight’s Literacy and Learning Centers: Not Just for the Primary Grades eBook and start setting up your learning centers right away!

7. Literacy and Learning Centers: Planning for Diverse Students

“When students are offered clearly focused activities that include a range of choices, challenges, and practice activities, magic happens.” Learn how Dr. McKnight’s Literacy and Learning Centers model is built on key research-based instructional approaches that foster student growth and achievement, balanced literacy, formative assessment, differentiated instruction, and multi-tiered intervention. Download Dr. McKnight’s Literacy and Learning Centers: Planning for Diverse Students eBook and start setting up your learning centers right away!

8. The Value of Intentional Vocabulary Instruction in the Middle Grades

There is power in language. And there is power in the instruction of every new word. But sound vocabulary instruction requires attending to the selection, context, and grouping of words. Get tips from Drs. Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey on how to implement effective vocabulary strategies and instruction that are both intentional and explicit. Download The Value of Intentional Vocabulary Instruction in the Middle Grades eBook now.