Joy F. Moss

As the librarian and literature teacher in the elementary division of a private school in Rochester, New York and as an adjunct associate professor at the Warner Graduate School of Education, University of Rochester, Joy has translated theories of literary and literacy learning into classroom practice. Over the past thirty years, she has explored literature with children, with graduate students who plan to become teachers, and with experienced teachers who want to learn more about literature and literacy.

Joy is the author of a number of professional texts including Literary Discussion in the Elementary School (NCTE, 2002) and From Literature to Literacy: Bridging Learning in the Library and the Primary Grade Classroom (IRA, 2002) written in collaboration with a colleague, Marilyn Fenster.

Lessons on ReadWriteThink

Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: Critical Discussion of Social Issues (6-8)
Students are invited to confront and discuss issues of injustice and intolerance reading a variety of texts, from Young Adult literature to picture books.

Comparing Fiction and Nonfiction with Little Red Riding Hood Text Sets (K-2)
Beginning with a comparative study of retellings of “Little Red Riding Hood” and modern revisions of the folktale, this literature unit continues with a study of fantasy, realistic fiction, and nonfiction texts. As students explore various depictions of wolves, they gain another perspective of the “villain” in the traditional tale.

Literature as a Catalyst for Social Action: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges (3-5)
Students are invited to confront and discuss issues of injustice and intolerance reading a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts.