Teaching with Intention: Defining Beliefs, Aligning Practice, Taking Action, K-5

by Debbie Miller

Effective, intentional teaching begins with a strong set of beliefs, but even the best teachers -- including author Debbie Miller -- struggle to make sure that their classroom practice consistently reflects their core convictions. In Teaching with Defining Beliefs, Aligning Practice, Taking Action, K-5, Miller defines her actions to ensure that children are the true beneficiaries of her teaching. As Peter Johnston writes, Through this book we have Debbie's teaching mind on loan. She engages us in the details of a teaching life from inside her mind, showing the thinking behind her teaching and the consequences of her actions.Teaching with Intention brings us into classrooms of teachers and children Miller has met over the last five years in her work as a literacy consultant. From setting up the classroom environment to the intentional use of language, from comprehension instruction to lesson design, Miller is explicit about what she does and why. At the same time, she encourages teachers to develop their own belief statements concerning teaching and learning and includes key questions to guide them in this important process.In an environment where the handing down of scripted programs and foolproof curricula is increasingly the norm, Teaching with Intention offers a compelling reminder that truly transformative teaching is built from the ground up, and is rebuilt every year, by every teacher, in every classroom, with every new group of students.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Professional Development, School, Nonfiction, Writing

162 pages, Paperback

First published August 13, 2008

Reviews

[Ana Stanciu-Dumitrache · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nu a fost rea, dar nici cum ma așteptam. Destul de scurta, câteva idei bune, însă toate legate de reading. Am rămas totuși cu o idee pe care voi încerca sa o păstrez mereu in gând la clasa: We cannot underestimate the power of our influence- what we choose to say and do in the classroom profoundly affects the way children view themselves and each other.

[Skyler Yeargan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has good insight and perspective about what it's like to teach elementary kids. The author goes into detail about her experiences, what she learned, and how she goes about things today. I believe this book is a must read for those who want to teach younger students.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all teachers!

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the end of second grade, I always get insecure knowing that I can once again teach first grade. Debbie Miller's book, Teaching with Intention, helped me take my "background knowledge" or "schema" about the reading comprehension strategies Stephanie Harvey recommends to use and synthesize how to use her same language and appropriate strategies for first graders. Since Debbie Miller and Stephanie Harvey think pretty much alike, this synthesizing was easy. As I read the book, I jotted down some notes which I know, but like to read again right before school starts.

So what do good teachers do? They ask thoughtful questions and expect thoughtful answers. They listen more and talk less. They are present for their students. Teachers model the reading comprehension strategies and help to move children to independently read and think aloud. Formative assessments, to both Debbie Miller and myself, is a more authentic way of assessing what children know and don't know. These formative assessments guide teachers in their instruction. Teachers should create collaborative classroom communities where everyone's ideas are valued and respected.

In writing my own book about teaching, I will explicitly explain how my "set of beliefs" have guided my work the past 32 years. This is the advice Debbie Miller gives to all new teachers. If I were a principal, I would have each teacher write a "set of beliefs" and throughout the year, help teachers match those beliefs to their own work across the curriculum.

This is a very helpful book to read for new and not so new teachers. I feel as if I can go into first grade again, feeling equipped and excited to teach those little tykes!

[Tara Looney · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a literacy interventionist, I would recommend this to book any teacher seeking growth and improvement. I started this text with my own professional development plan in mind and look forward to this journey ahead!

This well thought out text is guiding my teaching growth in the direction that I feel is best for not only myself but my students as well. Miller's honesty and reflective point of view made me realize that even after ten years of experience we never stop learning and growing.

I appreciate that she started with the basics and explicitly guided and connected my schema with new learning about the importance of reflective practice.

It is refreshing to hear that others experience the everyday "busy" and sometimes teach with very little direction other then "I'm teaching this because this is what I'm supposed to teach. Though we know this is not authentic learning we continue in this manner because we think that is what the "conventional" classroom looks like. It is refreshing to know that we can change this thought process and encourage authentic learning.

I love the notion that we practice being "present" and show our students that we have faith that they are capable, can think and problem solve.

So if you are looking for suggestions and examples of growth, authentic learning experiences, and improvement this is the book for you!

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful, refreshing book for a teaching of reading by Miller. Teaching with Intention, at its essence, is about authentic, realistic teaching. She has written in a way where you feel she is sitting right beside you and she is guiding you in the conversation. At first, I felt the audience for this book would be novice teachers, but I kept finding nuggets in the book, after teaching for over 15 years, and I quickly realized this book is for everyone. Even teachers of contents other than reading would be able to transfer most of her ideas to their content. For example, she has a great lesson on teaching nonfiction where she creates an anchor chart on "What I Think I Know", "New Learning", and "Misconceptions". The students use sticky notes to write their thoughts and then move the sticky notes around as they create new knowledge, schema. Every content can use that idea!

I also really liked the idea of conferring with 3-4 students per day for 5 minutes. If we think about this realistically, then we would be able to get through our classes every two weeks (even with some off days). Then recording those moments from our conferences in our trust notebook. Again an idea that is transferable regardless of content.

I heartily enjoyed this quick read to start my 2016 summer professional reading. I hope the rest don't disappoint, although it will be hard to keep up.

[Amanda Kaye (More.Reading.Time.Please) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing book! I think every new teacher who is in her first five years MUST read this book. And what a great reminder to teacher who have been teaching for a while. I think too often we quickly forget the important details of why we became teacher and what a REAL teacher looks like.

Debbie Miller's first book 'Reading with Meaning' showed us the wonderful material that she was teaching during reading, but this book is the missing puzzle piece. It really breaks down the how. How she planned her lessons, How she set up her room, How she assessed students, and How having a defined belief system is so important.

I love Debbie Miller as a author and as inspiration of good teaching. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debbie Miller has a wonderful was of teaching and bringing that through in her writing. This book focuses on defining your teaching beliefs, aligning your practice to those beliefs and taking action to be every present with your students. To build a community of learners that learn from each other in sruprisingly wonderful ways. I will return to this book for futher assistance as Debbie is an amazing mentor.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps I've tried to read too many professional books lately. This is a good book with some real opportunities to THINK about what WHY we do what we do each day or WHY we present things the WAY we do. I am marking this as "read" though I've only made it about 1/2 way through. It is time to take a break on professional reading for a bit. :)

[Dottie Alo]

I learned the value of teaching and preparation must be by design and each practice is delivered with my philosophy. Teachers need to be greatly involved in the reflection of their practices in order to evaluate their position and value of teaching that must encompass reform in the global market and our task.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author is Debbie Miller? I want to read it. Both Debbie Miller and Katie Wood Ray have a wonderful writing voice. They pull you in, make you their friend, and teach you everything that you need to know to be confident in letting go of traditional reading and writing rules, and teaching your students as a reader and writer.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say ... to me, Debbie Miller is my role model when it comes to classroom environment and the teaching of reading. This book, just like her first, is outstanding. I will read anything that she writes, for I truly feel that she is a master educator. Any opportunity to learn from her is a gift.
Truly.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best teacher book I've read this summer. Debbie Miller is one of those authors who write like an old friend. So easy to read, but very powerful ideas grounded in theory. She explains in simple terms why it's so important to put theory into practice and shows how it actually looks inside real classrooms. This is a great book!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important read for everyone who is teaching or preparing to teach. It looks at the fundamentals we need to set up in order to support deep thinking in our classroms. (Environment, time, climate, teacher language, reflection, lesson design, etc.)

[Gresham · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best professional books I've read. It really helps you slow down and examine your beliefs and practices. It's one of those books that will change the way you think about teaching and learning.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debbie Miller is brilliant. She's brilliant because she's not trying to sell a curriculum or a philosophy, but she's challenging us as teachers to look deeper into what we believe. The rest, she insists, will follow. I believe her.

[Carmyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book was marketed toward elementary teachers our book study group found the concepts very applicable to teaching at any age. Inspirational and motivational. I'll be thinking about my teaching differently. Already brewing up new approaches that are more in line with my beliefs.

[jennyreadit · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful follow-up to Reading with Meaning. This book continues from RwM and provides explicit ideas for streamlining instruction. This is a fabulous, teacher friendly book to aide in aligning practice with beliefs.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an inspiration...

[Kris]

People, namely teachers and curriculum facilitators, absolutely love this book and say it is transformative in one's teaching practices.

[Ms. Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as her first book, but it is still a keeper.

[Amy Leitze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why don't we read books like this in college? This book is really making me think about my beliefs as an educator and how my teaching supports/contradicts those beliefs.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it and it was really easy to read. Very conversational tone. It made me think about my teaching process and I'd read her other books.

[Adam Gutschenritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the ease with which Ms. Miller wrote. It easily allowed both her message through and the material she is teaching to become accessable.

[Holly Comstock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good reminder for what I know to be good for teaching and learning! Inspirational.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written as if Miller is having a conversation with you and very solid advice about teaching.

[Susan Hjorleifson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for any teacher. Some good ideas for in the class

[Carolyn Wilhelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good to give yourself a pep talk and not just follow all the programs that can conflict

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource for teaches, new and experienced. Great ideas on restructuring your classroom and refreshing your environment.

[Rochelle Eiseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Debbie Miller book full of wonderful information and applicable examples to make your teaching more meaningful!