Envisioning Knowledge: Building Literacy in the Academic Disciplines (Language and Literacy)

This updated text argues that literature fosters ways of thinking that go far beyond understanding the conventions of genre and text. It involves literate thinking that takes students beyond improved performance on high-stakes tests and prepares them for their future in the 21st century.  This revision of Judith Langer’s classic bestseller builds on more than 15 years of research and development projects in elementary, middle, and high schools, in inner-city as well as suburban and rural communities: 

• New examples to show the kinds of critical, creative, and innovative thinking that are needed for success in the digital-age classroom. 


• A fifth stance added to the Envisionment-building framework toward higher-level understanding, integration, and the building of new concepts. 

Filled with examples from across the grades and the voices of students and teachers, this book continues to be a practical and influential resource for the English Language Arts classroom. 

Judith A. Langer is an internationally known scholar in literacy learning and Distinguished Professor at the University at Albany, State University of New York.  She is the author of Getting to Excellent: How to Create Better Schools.

“[Judith Langer] pioneered the changes in the way we define the English/Language Arts curriculum.”

—English Journal (reviewing the first edition)

“Rich with narratives, Envisioning Literature provides both strong theory about teaching literature and real examples that provide a context for change….Important reading for teachers, staff development trainers, policy analysts, and reading program administrators.”

—Reading Today (reviewing the first edition)