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Professional Development: Educating ALL Students for Academic Su Growing Together: Building Capacity for Literacy Success
By Sophie Degener, Elizabeth Bramley, Adelfio Garcia, and Ivy Sitkoski
Document: Column
Introductory Paragraph: The beginning of the school year is an exciting time. Each fall gives us an opportunity to begin again with renewed commitment, fresh ideas, and optimism. As we consider our literacy instruction in light of new mandates and evolving expectations, we may be tempted to look for quick fixes or the newest, shiniest curriculum. Yet, the books featured in this column remind us that meaningful literacy improvement rarely comes from a single resource or initiative. Instead, it grows from strengthening the knowledge, skills, and collaborative practices of the educators who work with students every day. What better time than the beginning of a new school year to engage in this growth? The four books reviewed in this column invite educators to think beyond isolated instructional strategies and, instead, consider how coaching, schoolwide literacy leadership, intentional support for multilingual learners, and culturally sustaining classroom communities work together to improve outcomes for all students. We begin with a user-friendly guide to instructional coaching that will be valuable for coaches, teacher leaders, and administrators working to strengthen teaching across their schools. Next, we include a comprehensive resource for improving adolescent literacy through effective leadership, coaching, and evidence-based instructional practices. The third review highlights a framework for supporting multilingual learners through purposeful biliteracy instruction and cross-linguistic transfer. We conclude by reviewing a highly engaging book focused on how the arts can help students explore identity, foster belonging, and build stronger classro49om communities. Whatever your professional learning goals may be, we hope these books provide inspiration and practical ideas for the year ahead. Wishing you a productive, rewarding, and joyful 2026-2027 school year!
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33600/IRCJ.54.4.2026.45
Page Numbers: 45-49
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