A Child Went Forth: Reflective Teaching with Young Readers and Writers

By Janine Chappell Carr

"I am convinced. Children love to learn, regardless of their circumstances." So says the author of this inspirational new book. But when those circumstances include large classrooms of multiethnic, multilingual children from low socioeconomic backgrounds - not to mention the difficulties of controversial state curriculum frameworks and restricted budgets - how can a teacher effectively nurture that inherent love of learning? This was the dilemma Janine Chappell Carr confronted teaching language arts to first and second graders in southern California. The solutions she discovered may surprise you. Utilizing a blend of meaningful and interesting reading material, early writing practice, speaking, and explicit instruction, Carr disproves the media's insistence that American schools are typically ill-equipped to teach children from low-income neighborhoods. She describes her methods in great and practical detail - everything from getting the classroom ready for a new school year, to developing strategies for shared reading, to establishing a "writing studio." Samples of student work, plus narratives of how bilingual and English-only students rise to new challenges, offer vivid illustrations of Carr's methods in action. Assessment practices for closely monitoring students' progress are outlined, as well as novel ways to implement and maintain diagnostic and student-kept literacy portfolios. As a practical text, A Child Went Forth presents a thorough and realistic portrayal of life in an equitable classroom. As an inspirational one, it celebrates the voices of young learners and presents a wonderful model for success.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0325001715
• ISBN13: 9780325001715
• Release Date: August 1999
• Publisher: Heinemann
• Length: 390 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 0.7" x 7.5"
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 5

Customer Reviews

A clear, heartfelt book from a SuperStar teacher

Carr has spent 13 years in elementary schools, the latest one being a school physically designed for 450 but which served 1075 students. She had only 163 student teaching-days per year, and 73% of her children were at the poverty level. Class sizes ranged from 29 to 32. In this context, Carr gives a clear and ample description of what she does, how she does it, the level of detailed thinking and organization, and her methods for handling slips and pulls within the child's growing repertoire of reading, writing, and spelling. Fully two-thirds of her day is devoted to Language Arts, and she also uses projects and families to support her devoted attention in this area.This is a great book for beginning teachers, and persons who are interested in classroom "management" of time, materials, students, and physical locations. Her "reflective teaching" is extraordinary: she finds a place where her children can belong, and shine forth.I found it interesting because Carr's devotion shines through: she provides over 800 books in her first- and second-grade classrooms. This is a dedicated person and educator.