And with a Light Touch: Learning about Reading, Writing, and Teaching with First Graders

by Carol Avery and Donald Graves

With its first edition, ...And with a Light Touch was immediately praised for its authentic portrayal of classroom life and learning. "It's my bible for teaching young children" and "It reads like a novel," said veteran and preservice teachers alike. Those with minimal background in children's literature have found the book a godsend. Every page rings true with the voice of a caring, real-life classroom teacher-one who marvels at what young...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0325000662
• ISBN13: 9780325000664
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: Heinemann Educational Books
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 1.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.3" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

gentle advice

The book gently guides you through literature experiences with children- specifics that are logical- pleasant reading that ignites the desire to go into the classroom day after day-

This book is a treasure!

Bravo to Carol Avery for writing such a wonderful book! "And With a Light Touch" contains chapter after chapter of helpful ideas that can be implemented in the classroom, but the author also has such an honest and insightful voice, I actually put aside the novel I was reading and looked forward to reading about Avery's adventures in the classroom! Avery books gives a gold standard of value to the often overlooked teacher's anecdote, I wish more folks would share the way she does. As a mother of a first grader, I was very curious as to what the experience of teaching and learning in the classroom was like, and this book gave me a real inside view. I balked at the textbook price for a paperback, but this book was worth every penny and I would recommend it to anyone interested in teaching, children, or a good story.

This book helped me the most!

When I entered my first year of teaching, I did not know where to begin. This book helped me implement and find success with my students' literacy development. This book has been a very valuable tool. We are lucky to have such a fine teacher's footsteps to follow.

Carol Avery makes teaching look enjoyable and easy!

This text was an extremely easy text to read and one can relate so well with the real life classroom situations. I have taught for five years in the primary grades and by re-reading this book, it brought back the sense of fun that I have long since forgotten about with my classroom children.

A wonderful resource for first grade teachers!

Ms. Avery does a wonderful job of introducing a writing workshop and reading workshop to the teacher who doesn't know how to get started. I have read the book twice in addition to using it as a handbook in my classroom.