title: Sparks in the Dark: Lessons, Ideas and Strategies to Illuminate the Reading and Writing Lives in All of Us
author: Travis Crowder
description: <span><span>"Sparks in the Dark</span><span> is a high-energy drink for teachers. Travis Crowder and Todd Nesloney invite readers to rethink (and yes, discard) hidebound traditions and to open classrooms to choice, passion, and authenticity. But what stands out for me is their sheer optimism and their willingness to experiment, take risks, and change.</span><br /><br /><span>"They are models and mentors who walk the walk. This book is a jolt we all need."</span><br /><b><span>--Thomas Newkirk, </span><span>founder of The New Hampshire Literacy Institutes and author of </span></b><span><b>(embarrassment): And the Emotional Underlife of Learning</b> </span><br /><br /><br /><span>"Travis Crowder and Todd Nesloney have crafted a book worthy of study by faculty groups across the country. In simple, straightforward language, they relate how they both came to embrace the reading/writing workshop approach, an approach that invites students to join the 'literacy club.' In addition to providing an overview of the approach, they break the reading/writing workshop down into its important components and suggest how teachers, librarians, and administrators might do so in their own schools. Plenty of personal stories about their journeys in literacy should make all readers feel as if they can make transitions to workshop approaches in classrooms. </span><span>Sparks in the Dark</span><span>, indeed."</span><br /><span><b>--Teri Lesesne, professor of library science at Sam Houston University in Houston, TX and</b></span><br /><b><span>author of </span><span>Reading Ladders</span><span>, </span><span>Naked Reading</span><span>, and </span><span>Making the Match</span><span> </span></b><br /><br /><span>"With a stack of mentor authors holding them up, Travis and Todd are able to bring their professional and personal reading lives to their schools and now to the world. Through honest accounts and classroom application, this book sends the message that educators can always shift their practice to better the lives of their students. Travis and Todd have crafted a beautiful (and practical) narrative of their teaching lives." </span><br /><b><span>--Sara K. Ahmed, </span><span>author, speaker, and literacy coach at NIST International School, Bangkok, Thailand </span></b><br /><br /><span>"Travis and Todd speak to the power of fine-tuning our practice and craft as educators through reading professional literature and active engagement in the professional community. Travis speaks to us in the voice of a classroom teacher striving to make instruction both authentic and deeply meaningful for his middle school students. Todd's voice opens a window into the thinking of a school administrator deeply involved in instructional leadership. Together they speak to the powerful influence of reading broadly and deeply, being involved in professional organizations such as NCTE and ILA and to being an active part of a larger professional community. Each section ends with an opportunity to pause and reflect, with a nudge to share your thinking with colleagues in a tweet. </span><span>Sparks in the Dark</span><span> is filled with energy and hope for a brighter future for our students and ourselves."</span><br /><span><b>--Lester Laminack, author and literacy consultant</b></span><br /><br /><span>"When I first read </span><span>Sparks in the Dark</span><span>, I thought Chapter 5, a chapter about giving kids choice in what they read, would be my favorite chapter. But then I read Chapter 6, a chapter about putting choice into the content areas, and that became my favorite chapter. Later, I was quite sure my favorite chapter was Chapter 9, which took up the topic of writing, and that held all the way through Chapter 10, which tackles revision. When I finished the book and started to put it on my bookshelf, I left it instead on my desk. Some books are like that: They need to be close because you'll turn to them often. They'll become dog-eared and coffee-stained and filled with your notes as you make this book your own. </span><span>Sparks in the Dark</span><span> won't stay long on your bookshelf, but it will linger in your hands and will last longer in your thoughts." </span><br /><b><span>--Kylene Beers, coauthor of </span><span>Notice and Note</span><span>, </span><span>Reading Nonfiction</span><span>, and </span><span>Disrupting Thinking</span></b></span><br /><br /><span><span>"Two fresh voices make a powerful case for providing students choice and authentic tasks as we guide them to become joyful and capable readers and writers. Travis and Todd speak from experience backed by research about what really works and does not work for students. Multiple examples from their own practice give readers a bird's-eye view of how literacy-rich schools and classrooms look. This book will surely spark productive conversations between teachers and teacher leaders. I can't wait to use </span><span>Sparks In the Dark</span><span> as a valuable tool in my consulting work!"</span><br /><span><b>--Martha Page, educational consultant, Adolescent Literacy &amp; Learning, Inc.</b></span><br /><br /><span>"Sparks in the Dark</span><span> is the rallying cry that Travis Crowder and Todd Nesloney hoped it would be! Their stories will inspire teachers to bring choice to the workshop so every student can find books that call them to the reading life and develop a lifelong passion for reading. You'll stand beside Travis as he helps students find their stories and write from their hearts. We learn through story, and Travis and Todd share stories about themselves, students, colleagues, and family that inspire creative thinking and guide and mentor us as we reflect on myriad teaching and leadership suggestions. Like a joyful refrain, stamped on every page is the importance of relationships and kindness to students. Truth be told, I couldn't put this book down, because as the authors note, their stories are "glimpses of our hearts" that deeply touched my heart and sent me directly to stories about my students."</span><br /><b><span>--Laura Robb, </span><span>teacher, coach, and author of </span><span>The Reading Intervention Toolkit</span></b><br /><br /><br /><span>"I said it twenty-five years ago and still believe it today: I am not the same teacher I was then, nor will I be the same teacher next year that I was this year. That is the way it should be. We are continually evolving as teachers and as learners. That is what Travis and Todd are showing us in this book--our students' growth is dependent on their teachers' growth. They are both passionate educators who are continually rethinking and changing their teaching practices based on what they know about their students and themselves as readers, writers, and learners. This is where they are right now--learners taking risks to be all they can be for the students in front of them at the moment. They offer us so many ways to be sparks in the dark as we grow as learners along with our students."</span><br /><span><b>--Linda Rief, 8th-grade language arts teacher, Oyster River Middle School, Durham, NH and</b></span><br /><b><span>author of </span><span>The Quickwrite Handbook</span><span>, </span><span>Read Write Teach</span><span>, and </span><span>Inside the Writers'-Readers' Notebook</span></b><br /><br /><br /><span>"Come chase ideas with Travis and Todd as they disrupt the universe of reading and writing instruction. Ask students to join you on an endeavor of passion and joy and making meaning. Find the spark!"</span><br /><b><span>--Jeff Anderson, author of </span><span>Patterns of Power</span><span> and the Zack Delacruz series</span></b><br /><br /><span>"Travis and Todd open </span><span>Sparks in the Dark</span><span> with their shared commitment to create a rally cry that will inspire, challenge, and spark change. They bring this desire to life across the pages of this remarkable new book, illuminating the way to view reading and writing as a meaningful, purposeful, and yes, joyful experience. They celebrate books as the beating heart of our practices and weave in snapshots of what this could look like and sound like in classrooms and schools everywhere. I have no doubt that their words of wisdom will initiate rich collective conversations that will inspire us on a path toward disrupting our own educational universe in the name of kids."</span><br /><b><span>--Mary Howard, </span><span>literacy consultant, author of </span><span>Good to Great Teaching</span></b></span><br /><br /><span>"The authors' passion for enriching the reading and writing lives of children shines through in every word of </span><span>Sparks in the Dark</span><span>. They offer concrete activities for working with students and show the impact of their methods with real examples from the classroom. I developed a love of books as a child from the freedom I had to read whatever I wanted. As a homeschooling mom, I've never had to teach my children according to standards, tests, or reading levels and have attempted to instill a love of storytelling in them by letting </span><span>them read and write freely according to their interests. Even so, </span><span>Sparks in the Dark</span><span> has opened my eyes further to new ways I can ignite my children's passion for stories and spark their interest in more diverse books. I found myself taking notes about how to improve the reading environment in my own home, show my children I value their own unique voices and identities, and become intentional in the books I choose to share with others. Highly recommended for educators, parents, and anyone who recognizes there is always room to learn, evolve, and grow as readers and writers."</span><br /><b><span>--Dusti Bowling, author of </span><span>Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus</span></b>
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