Language Arts: Patterns of Practice (7th Edition)
The introductory vignette describing best language arts practices is an excellent way to set the stage for the content in the chapter.  LA Essentialsisessential information for teachers to have in an easy reference format.Diane Bottomley,BallStateUniversity Tompkins provides lots of practical ideas for teaching, and explains the constructs associated with the reading and writing processes in context of classroom application.  The charts, lists, and special features are very helpful in highlighting important content. Janet Young,BrighamYoungUniversity I like the rich description of theory and its application to instruction.  Tompkins does a good job of explaining the theories and of giving readers examples of classroom applications, and the book continues to help readers make these connections in subsequent chapters. Debra Price,SamHoustonStateUniversity