Synopses & Reviews
"Your charts don't need to be perfect, just thoughtful. You don't even have to be able to draw. Just put the child before the chart."
- Marjorie Martinelli and Kristine Mraz Listen to an interview with Marjorie and Kristi, the Chartchums, on Education Talk Radio.
Commercially available charts leave you hanging? Want the secret to jump-off-the-wall charts that stick with kids? Trust Smarter Charts.
Did you ever want to know:
- What do great charts look like?
- How many is too many?
- Where are the best places for them in my classroom?
- How long do I keep them?
- How do I know if they are working?
Then you'll want to meet Marjorie Martinelli and Kristine Mraz, the Chartchums. They struggled with the same questions, and Smarter Charts shares not only the answers, but the best practices they've discovered as well. Amp up the power of your charts with tips on design and language, instructional use, and self-assessment. Even better, discover surprising strategies that deepen engagement, strengthen retention, and heighten independence-all by involving students in chart making.
Packed with full-color sample charts from real classrooms, Smarter Charts shares simple, brain-based strategies proven to make your classroom an even more active, effective space for literacy instruction and classroom management.
Synopsis
-Your charts don't need to be perfect, just thoughtful. You don't even have to be able to draw. Just put the child before the chart.-
Marjorie Martinelli and Kristine Mraz Listen to an interview with Marjorie and Kristi, the Chartchums, on Education Talk Radio.
Commercially available charts leave you hanging? Want the secret to jump-off-the-wall charts that stick with kids? Trust Smarter Charts.
Did you ever want to know:
- What do great charts look like?
- How many is too many?
- Where are the best places for them in my classroom?
- How long do I keep them?
- How do I know if they are working?
Then you'll want to meet Marjorie Martinelli and Kristine Mraz, the Chartchums. They struggled with the same questions, and Smarter Charts shares not only the answers, but the best practices they've discovered as well. Amp up the power of your charts with tips on design and language, instructional use, and self-assessment. Even better, discover surprising strategies that deepen engagement, strengthen retention, and heighten independence-all by involving students in chart making.
Packed with full-color sample charts from real classrooms, Smarter Charts shares simple, brain-based strategies proven to make your classroom an even more active, effective space for literacy instruction and classroom management.
About the Author
Marjorie Martinelli is coauthor - with Kristine Mraz - of Smarter Charts and the new Smarter Charts for Math, Science, and Social Studies. Their popular blog chartchums keeps teachers in touch with ongoing and relevant classroom issues and ways to use charts as a support. Chartchums is also on Facebook and on Twitter @chartchums! While in schools as consultants with the Reading and Writing Project, the teachers they've worked with have begged them to write a how-to book about the amazing charts they introduce to consulting classrooms. Smarter Charts was that guide, and Smarter Charts for Math, Science, and Social Studies extends that work across the teaching day. She is a staff developer at the Reading and Writing Project where for the past ten years she has lead numerous leadership groups and presented at many national and international educational conferences. Prior to joining the Reading and Writing Project, Marjorie was a New York City public school teacher, a teacher-researcher, and an adjunct teacher at Bank Street College of Education. She has an MA in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from New York University and is a contributing author to Lucy Calkins' Units of Study for Teaching Writing. She is also the author of two Brain Quest Math decks for first and second grade. Marjorie lives in Greenwich Village with her husband Tom, where they raised two daughters, Katherine and Christina. Listen to an interview with Marjorie and Kristi, the Chartchums, on Education Talk Radio.Kristine Mraz is coauthor - with Marjorie Martinelli - of Smarter Charts and the new Smarter Charts for Math, Science, and Social Studies. Their popular blog chartchums keeps teachers in touch with ongoing and relevant classroom issues and ways to use charts as a support. Chartchums is also on Facebook and on Twitter @chartchums! While in schools as consultants with the Reading and Writing Project, the teachers they've worked with have begged them to write a how-to book about the amazing charts they introduce to consulting classrooms. Smarter Charts was that guide, and Smarter Charts for Math, Science, and Social Studies extends that work across the teaching day. As a staff developer for the Reading and Writing Project, Kristi works with primary teachers across New York City and the United States, and in schools as distant as Taiwan. In addition to providing in-classroom support around the teaching of reading and writing, she has presented at conferences and institutes across the nation. Before joining the Project, Kristine was a classroom teacher in Boston, Washington DC, and New York City. She has taught across the primary grades and holds a special place in her heart for engaging in social action with young students. When she is not working alongside adults and children, Kristine is reading and doodling. Listen to an interview with Marjorie and Kristi, the Chartchums, on Education Talk Radio.