Sparks in the Dark: Lessons, Ideas, and Strategies to Illuminate the Reading and Writing Lives in All of Us

by Travis Crowder, Todd Nesloney

What sparks a lifelong love of learning? Books have the power to shape the way we think. Stories—reading them, writing them, and sharing them—give us new lenses through which to view the world and the people we encounter. In short, words matter. In Sparks in the Dark, Travis Crowder and Todd Nesloney share their experiences as educators who purposefully seek to spark a love for reading and writing in the learners they serve. The reason is Writing and reading have the power to change the trajectory of a life. Through the stories and real-life examples they share, the authors light the way to . . . * Incorporating literacy skills in every subject in engaging ways. * Empowering students and staff to ask and explore tough questions about the world. * Encouraging learners at all levels to choose to read books that challenge them. * Taking responsibility to seek and share learning for everyone’s benefit. More standards, tests, and mandates are not the answer to improving literacy. Sparking a fire—a passion—for words, stories, and self-expression in learners is the surest path to instilling a lifelong love of learning. Let’s light up the darkness!

Genres: Education

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2018

Reviews

[Lanelle D. Stumf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the book

I love the ideas on this book. It made me an active reader and want to implement things in my classroom. Love the ideas because they spoke to me!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book to inspire teachers. Nesloney and Crowder argue that for students to develop a love of reading and writing they need to be provided with opportunities to read and write independently. Backed up by experience and peer evidence the book offers suggestions of how this may look in the classroom but does not provide a blueprint. The book also offers talking points and professional reading suggestions. A great summer read to build enthusiasm for a new school year.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love that such a recently published book gets back to the mentors I use when it comes to ELA. So much has become focused on using developed units and lessons. I miss TRUE reading and writing workshop so it was extremely refreshing to hear from Todd and Travis on how using this approach in the classroom helps to develop and enrich the lives of our students on a deep level. Also, I love the reminders about the importance and power behind teachers living a readerly and writerly life.

[Pernia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very inspirational but too vague. It’s nice that it takes a lot of great thinkers and writers and packs big ideas into one place.

But there weren’t very many specific details on how to turn your class into a workshop model. I think Penny Kittle and Nancy Atwell give more concrete examples in their books.

[Joseph Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent and inspiring read. Many reviews find it too vague, which I can see, yet ultimately we all have to make decisions that best fit our circumstances. The thoughts and theories I think are detailed enough for people to tailor them to their own unique situations.

A great read, now for the real work of incorporating it into my classroom.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoght-provoking...need to write.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book!! Definitely gave me something to think about as a teacher of not just reading but writing as well!

[Adrian Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tons of advice and inspiration. Loads of books to read and ideas to contemplate. I am lit.

[Jamie Humphreys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is geared more toward jr high and high school teachers, but I still feel like I gleaned some helpful things as an elementary teacher. It got me excited for the new school year.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of excellent things to think about. I'll post more of a review when I get off my Kindle.
Though I will say I did think it was pretty lame the last like 7% of the book was advertising for other Burgess Publishing titles.

[Cathy Winkler]

Great book for teachers and principals.