Teaching English by Design: How to Create and Carry Out Instructional Units 10/17/07 Edition

I had to buy this book and so far I think it was worth the investment. I was hoping to just have to rent my textbooks (cheaper and saves me space on the bookshelf later) but it was moderately priced for a new copy. I think that I will be able to get a lot of use out of this book. Smagorinsky has a very down-to-earth writing style that is easy to understand and he provides a lot of great ideas for teaching. I plan to use this after school when I am working as a teacher. Great book!

This book gives depths into a high school teachers planning process - a teacher who enjoys the process of planning. It's very informative. The author describes a lot of his theories and practices and promotes that curriculum must be planned purposefully. It is a book that is best read in full, not selectively reading chapters.

For the aspiring teacher this is a good reference book to ensure that you're designing your coursework in an appropriate manner. Smagorinsky discusses how a classroom is like a construction zone and that it is essential to establish the end goal before doing any work. Instructors need to start with what they want students to know and then design from there. It requires that we look at the end goals of our year or our units and then design work for students to accomplish from there. I find it helpful because he discusses why we should the way we do, what we can implement in our designs, and then proceeds to give an example of how to do it.The only reason this text doesn't receive a higher score is because there are many people who do not and cannot function explicitly as Smagorinsky would like us to (even though he states its his opinion).

How do we create instruction that matters--that leaves a lasting impression with students while guiding them to appropriate key ELA skills and strategies. In this wonderful book, Smagorinsky offers specific, constructive architecture for units of instruction that will create important experiences for students. I have personally shared this book with newer teachers who are grappling with lesson/unit design and with vetern teachers who are reinvestigating what they do.

Of all the texts we 'had to' read for my teacher's ed program (I had already taught for 12 years in private schools and knew useless books when I read them), this may well be the most useable for everyday teaching.

Information is excellent.........a good read

Item delivered on time and as described.

Book required for a teaching assignment.