Learning Leech Literacy
Travis Leech
EDUCATOR - AUTHOR - CONSULTANT
About Travis
Travis has spent fifteen years in classrooms: as a middle school teacher and coach, gifted and talented specialist, as a curriculum designer and district instructional coach. He began his work with invitational grammar practices and found his students thrived in a classroom filled with conversation, inquiry, and celebration. He has now coauthored two Patterns of Power books with Jeff Anderson about invitational grammar practices.
Travis enjoys traveling to school districts and conferences to share his love for empowering young readers and writers and the educators who support them on their literacy journeys. You can follow Travis on Twitter @learningleech or join ongoing discussions about invitational grammar in the Patterns of Power Facebook Community.
Books
Click on the book's image for a preview!
Patterns of Power: Inviting Adolescent Writers into the Conventions of Language, Grades 6-8
“Is this right? Is this how it’s supposed to look?” Adolescent writers often ask these kinds of questions because traditional grammar instruction focuses too much on what’s right or what’s wrong. The fear of making a mistake hides the true power of conventions – the creation of meaning, purpose, and effect, the ultimate reading-writing connection.
Let's explore grammar in a new way, lifting middle school writers by focusing on possibility and producing effective writing that will transfer to the classroom and beyond.
Patterns of Power: Teaching Grammar Through Reading and Writing, Grades 9-12
Traditional grammar instruction often focuses too much on what’s right or what’s wrong, hiding the true power of conventions—the creation of meaning, purpose, and effect. Instead of hammering high school students with the mistakes they should avoid, Jeff Anderson, Travis Leech, and Holly Durham suggest exploring grammar through the celebration of author’s purpose and craft. In Patterns of Power: Teaching Grammar Through Reading and Writing, Grades 9–12, they invite you to create an environment in which writers thrive while studying and appreciating the beauty, effects, and meaning of grammar.
Educator Resources
Check out resources below to support your work with Patterns of Power in your classroom, on your campus, or with your district.
Resources for Patterns of Power 6-8
Resources for Patterns of Power 9-12
Patterns of Power 6-8 Suggested Instructional Sequence (CCSS)
This sequence sets up grades 6-8 with two lessons per month throughout the school year, dividing up all of the lessons so they do not cross over between grade levels. Please note that this lesson sequence is meant to be flexible and does not take into account the resources your district is using for writing instruction. Consider the work your students are doing as they learn the types of writing (narrative, informational, opinion) throughout the year and plan your lessons accordingly.
Patterns of Power 9-12 Implementation Guide and Possible Lesson Sequence
The guide is to support teachers and teams as they plan implementation of Patterns of Power. Each lesson is broken down by skill with a more in-depth list of what concepts the whole lesson cycle covers. Keep in mind that the same lessons and focus phrases can be used at more than one grade level — as each lesson has Models for Further Study. There are also Pacing Guides available beginning on page 7 with sequences mapped out from 9 –12.
Patterns of Power 6-8 Suggested Instructional Sequence (TEKS)
This sequence sets up grades 6-8 with two lessons per month throughout the school year, dividing up all of the lessons so they do not cross over between grade levels. Please note that this lesson sequence is meant to be flexible and does not take into account the resources your district is using for writing instruction. Consider the work your students are doing as they work in different modes of writing throughout the year and plan your lessons accordingly.
I'd love to work with you!
Please give me a little information about how you'd like to work together.