Turning on a Dime: Making Change in Literacy Classrooms

In today's environment of school change and reform, teachers are often challenged by limited time and resources to reach new goals. The author observes that schools need teachers who not only revise their instruction but also can reshape their perspectives on teaching and learning. Four strategies are consistently found in classrooms and schools that have a commitment to change and increased achievement for all students: differentiating, interacting, monitoring, and extending time for learning—or “DIME.” The author goes on to examine how teachers can “turn on a dime and make change in their literacy practices—how they can move within the tight confines of their time and resources to make a difference in teaching and learning.”