Reviews (18)

ONE OF THE BEST EDUCATIONAL BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ
This is a totally fantastic book.It is written so well and in a down to earth fashion that I couldn't put it down.It was as easy to read as my favorite novel.Most importantly, however, it clearly explained how the best learning takes place.The strategies in this book hit every facet of learning as described by American Psychiatry.Put a study of this book together with a study of how our memory works, and you can't help but understand better how to teach, as well as clearly understand why other strategies have only limited success.This is a book that will stay on my desk and be read and studied over and over again.My thanks to the authors.

I love this book!
I've had this book on my shelf for 4 years and have decided to use this book, along with Reading Strategies that work by Laura Robb to enhance my reader's workshop with my third graders. You have to own this book because it gives great teaching tips on how to teach comprehension. My favorite part are the lists at the back of the book which have book to help teach a strategy and ideas on how to teach response (discussion, writing, etc)using each strategy.

Great Practical Resource
This book provides lesson plans to use with specific trade books to model comprehension strategies with your students. The authors are staff developers who model the gradual release of responsibility format with students of different grade levels. I definately recommend the appendix which sorts books by topic and strategy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Elementary    5. Reading (Elementary)    6. Reading comprehension    7. Study and teaching (Elementary    8. Study and teaching (Elementary)    9. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    10. Thought and thinking   

Reviews (9)

Very useful
I needed to order this book for a class. It is well written and easy to read. As a reading teacher I can say that I will keep this book as a reference long after the class has ended. This edition comes with a CD (or DVD) which I have not previewed yet, but the instructor of my class raves about it.

The best reading methods textbook I've found
I teach a course in elementary reading methods for undergraduate education students.This is the third textbook I've tried, and it is excellent! It has what students need to know about the theory and practice of teaching reading, written in a very readable, non-overwhelming way.Plus it has lots of practical teaching ideas.Our lab school saw it and ordered several copies for its teachers also.I highly recommend it.

A must have!!
I was first introduced to this book in one of my graduate literacy courses and I have been hooked every since.The teachers at my school pass it around constantly looking for ideas. My favorite aspect of this book is the fact that there are real teachers giving real examples of what works in their classrooms.There are no strategies that seem too hard implement in your classroom, because the layout is right there!!You know it can be done and it words because the examples in the book are proof!You don't feel like you are reading about some ideal or Utopia of a classroom. You are reading about REAL classrooms. I absolutely love it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education / Teaching    2. Elementary    3. Language    4. Language Arts & Disciplines    5. Language arts (Elementary)    6. Literacy    7. Literature    8. Reading (Elementary)    9. Study and teaching (Elementary    10. Study and teaching (Elementary)    11. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    12. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Reading    13. English    14. English (ie as school subject)    15. Teaching of a specific subject   

Reviews (25)

Excellent Strategies!
I love this book!I have used it for several years in an elementary classroom and have had the pleasure of seeing her in a workshop. She is fantastic!Her ideas are clear, easy to use and very effective.I highly recommend this for teachers and parents.

Great resource for primary teachers
This is a great resource if you want to know how to teach comprehension in grades K-2.As a former teacher of upper grades, I found it very helpful in understanding how the younger children learn.

An easily read and practical read
This is a book that makes the reading process very practical and seemingly manageable for someone interested in providing a program for emerging and transitional readers. Its straight forward and practical. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Elementary    4. General    5. Language Experience Approach    6. Reading (Primary)    7. Reading comprehension    8. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading   

Reviews (7)

Practical Traits
This book offers tons of practical approaches and practice scoring for the 6 Traits of Writing.It is written by a recognized master in the field and has been so helpful.

A Friendly Read
Spandel's book is an authentic, engaging, and encouraging read for those that teach writing, want help infusing writing, or want to enhance their own writing. It is written conversationally and is well supported with numerous examples. I found it visually appealing as a reader and insightful. (Another review didn't like the visuals because it isn't easy to lift examples "as is" for sharing in class. To that angle I agree, but as a reader the layout is very pleasing.) Highly recommended.

Creating Writers Through 6-Trait Writing Assessment and Instruction (4th Ed)
This book gives so many examples of the qualities to look for and teach in writing instruction.I especially like the fact that this edition is more inclusive of secondary ideas and samples.
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Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - General    2. Composition and exercises    3. Education    4. Elementary    5. English language    6. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    7. Report writing    8. Rhetoric    9. Study and teaching    10. Teaching Methods & Materials - Language Arts    11. Creative writing guides    12. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Reading    13. Writing skills   

Reviews (29)

A Must Have for those who teach Reading
I have been doing alot of professional reading on strategies to help my students comprehend what they read.I teach reluctant readers and this is one of the best I've read for middle school comprehension.This puts a new spin on strategies I've already been doing.This book plus Strategic Reading-Guiding Students to Lifelong Literacy 6-12 by Jeffrey Wilhelm are my strategic plans for learning-centered teaching: I do You watch, I do You help, You do I help and You do I watch.Powerful research!!!!

I Read It, but I Don't Get It: Comprehension Strategies for Adolescent Readers
This is one of the most helpful books about teaching struggling readers that I've ever read.The strategies were immediately applicable to my work with learning disabled teenagers, and the book is written in a very clear and conversational style.It's like sitting down for a great discussion with a master reading teacher.Highly recommended.

Teachers of Teens: Read This!
Try this book: easily readable, conversational, and inspirational, it develops ways to reach those who do not really understand what they read. There are anecdotal narratives, each with suggestions for techniques to use in the classroom, and these help focus on the problem as well as possible solutions. I would like to see it used in teacher training classes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Reading    4. Reading (Secondary)    5. Reading Skills    6. Reading comprehension    7. Remedial teaching    8. Secondary    9. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading   

Reviews (4)

QRI4
I have been using the QRI3 for many years and was very happy that a new version was out with new stories. There are plenty of new stories in this version.It was nice to give a student something they had not memorized or where not familiar with.

Practical & Professional Product
My wife needed an IRI for a recent course. She reported that this book provides different types of readings as opposed to just the story narrative form. The directions for using the IRI were clear and the typeset on the word lists is sharp. She says she is very pleased with this investment and expect to use it in her classroom in the future.

Qualitative Reading Inventory-4 (4th Edition)
It's an excellent book. I used it as an informal assessment tool for my Special Education students. I highly recommend this book to any educator. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ability testing    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Educational Tests And Measurements    5. Language Experience Approach    6. Qualitative Reading Inventory    7. Reading Education (General)    8. Reading comprehension    9. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    10. Testing & Measurement    11. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Reading    12. Examinations & assessment    13. Industrial or vocational training   

Subjects:  1. Education    2. General    3. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    4. Reading    5. Research    6. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    7. English    8. English language: reading skills    9. Teaching of a specific subject   

Reviews (12)

practical qnd classroom friendly
This book is a wonderful resource book for any Language Arts teacher.The key to successfully using it is to find out what the child needs to learn to do to become a better reader.Then Mrs. Beers has listed what to do, and even shows how it has worked with real students.I know the activities could be used with first graders and on up.I taught Reading Recovery for ten years and have studied struggling readers for forty years, and I know these resources will work.I also like the authors she used to gather her research.She didn't just research through books, but also practiced these herself.Mrs. Beers has included places for busy teachers to go easily to find the materials to use.All Language Arts teachers shoud use this book.

When Kids Can't Read What TEachers Can Do
This is a great book for ESL teachers, new teachers and even seasoned teachers that need to help their kids think higher level and need help with comprehension.I have enjoyed everything in it!!!I am not finished but I am already implementing many of the ideas for comprehension.This purchase has been the best money I have spent in a long time!

I love this book!
I love this book!As a future teacher, it is very helpful.It gives many tips on how to help your reluctant reader.It also is an easy read and not boring what-so-ever. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Elementary    4. Reading    5. Reading (Middle school)    6. Reading (Secondary)    7. Remedial teaching    8. Secondary    9. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    10. English    11. English language    12. Literacy    13. Reading skills    14. Teaching of a specific subject   

Reviews (15)

Great Reading
Classrooms That Work has a multitude of ideas that actually work in the classroom to help students become better readers and writers.

Great resource
This book is written in a reader-friendly format. It provides many useful strategies which are easily adapted to individual classrooms. The authors reference specific books which lend themselves to cited strategies. ( Some books will prove hard to come by as they are out of print, however.) Current reasearch is presented in a clear manner. Classrooms That Work
For any experienced teacher, Cunningham's condescending,dogmatic style borders upon the insulting. Carefully read, her "best methods" approach, "research-based" book is neither supported, cited nor properly footnoted within the confines of her book. In spite of that fact, her books are being implented as if they were "Bibles" in numerous districts throughout the USA. In fact, the bureaucrats of the state of Illinois are requiring that we teach her methods!Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Elementary    4. Elementary School Language Arts    5. Language arts (Elementary)    6. Reading (Elementary)    7. Reading In Elementary Education    8. Teaching Methods & Materials - Classroom Planning    9. Teaching Methods & Materials - Language Arts    10. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    11. United States    12. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Reading   

Reviews (8)

Love it, so I have to buy it...
I'm currently facing the end of my first year teaching, and I'm already looking forward to the new beginnings of next year.As a "newbie", I picked this book up from my school's professional library and fell in love with its conversational writing style and practical ideas.Frustrated by the fact that I can't write in the school's copy, I'm now buying my own.You should too.

Great book for new teachers!
This is a very great, practical, realistic book.It is a very easy read, and is only 120 pages total.If you already know alot about reading comprehension, it is nothing earth-shattering, and you may only pick up a few things from it.But, if you are a relatively new teacher, this book could help you significantly.Tovani's writing is very simple, easy to follow, and straightforward, and you can tell she is still a classroom teacher and not some out-of-touch researcher, since all her tips are very practical.Even if you already know alot about comprehension, this book will probably give you a few new things to think about, and it can easily be read in one weekend.It will not be a waste of your money!!

Do I Really Have to Teach Reading?Content Comprehension, Grades 6-12
This book is short and to the point but filled with valuable information for teachers who want to strengthen reading comprehension in their classrooms.I highly recommend this book as a starter text for both teachers who are motivated to learn more about content area reading and those who may be hesitant.It's a great title for a collegial study group. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Content area reading    2. Education / Teaching    3. Elementary    4. Language    5. Reading (Middle school)    6. Reading (Secondary)    7. Secondary    8. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading   

Reviews (2)

Reading Specialist
This is a very helpful book for ESL Kindergarteners!I have all the Words Their Way books and have used them at every grade level in my elementary school.

A MUST for K-2 teachers.
Like the other Words their Way materials, this volume continues the wonderful tradition of combining excellent teaching ideas with theblack line masters so you can use the strategies immediately.This level is especially appropriate for students learning letter/sound relationships.It gives dozens of poems and stories which have sorts to support teaching them.There are old faithfuls such as "It's raining, it's pouring" to new poems that teach phonemic awareness, rhyming, visual discrimination and sight words. My favorite is the alphabet printed in several different fonts so students can learn all the ways 'A' might look. I wish I had this 21 years ago when I started teaching.I use it daily now. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. English Etymology    4. English Phonetics    5. English language    6. Language Experience Approach    7. Orthography and spelling    8. Phonetic method    9. Reading    10. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    11. Word recognition    12. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Reading    13. English    14. Teaching of a specific subject   

Reviews (1)

Great Help for Frazzled Teachers!
This book has many useful,practical ideas for effectively using literacy workstations.My school year has started so smoothly because of the things I learned from this book.I highly recommend it to anyone new to workstations, and even to veteran teachers for a fresh perspective. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classroom learning centers    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Group work in education    5. Language Experience Approach    6. Language arts (Elementary)    7. Professional Development    8. Teaching Methods & Materials - General    9. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading   

Reviews (37)

Truthfully, just another set of excuses for poor instructional techniques!
Using MRI and neuroscience to try to answer questions about dyslexia as Sally Md Shaywitz has tried to do is dangerously short sighted and terribly misguided.Especially when you consider that her conclusions about remediation reflect what is so deeply wrong with education today.Trying to cram human brain function and the human spirit into the confines of modern educationis akin to stuffing an elephant into a thimble. Imagine if one were so dimwitted as to blame the elephant for the obvious lack of success.This is precisely what is happening today in public education.If one were able to step back from the tree and catch a glimpse of the forest, one might see that ego drives professionals to draw conclusions about student performance that reflect the stupidity of arrogance.More and more students are being labeled learning disabled and dyslexic, more medication is being doled out and more and more remediations are being invented to control and force students into a useless development that does much more to impede brain function than to enhance it.In fact, students are being driven into intellectual comas and instead of rethinking methods and curriculum, teachers blame students and their families for their own professional shortcomings. Uniforms, drill and kill, direct instruction amongst other inhumane and unintelligent strategies are exactly what has gotten us to this desperate point.In one more generation, Sally Md Shaywitz will be able to prove that 2 in 5 students have dyslexia and her confidence in modern science will soar to new heights.Teachers everywhere will be able to rejoice that their own drastic failings are not their fault at all, but that of the flawed human condition.
Well meaning, but flawed and scary presentation of dyslexia
Some of the book was very interesting, especially the chapter on the functional MRI findings.I appreciate her writing the book to share her experiences, and think she truly wants to help. However, I admit I have grave doubts about her premise, because it is inherently contradictory.She repeats throughout the book that anyone who is dyslexic will always remain so, and yet is simultaneously convinced that the kind of intervention she recommends is uniformly effective. In addition, the graph on which she bases her claim about the absolute persistence of dyslexia does not justify her conclusions. The book names various intervention programs, but doesn't compare and contrast them. It is hard to tease out specific recommendations about what to do.She mentions that people vary in their reading stumbling blocks, but prescribes the same programs for all.She states that anyone using programs like Open Court should succeed, but thousands of California children still have trouble reading.Though she means the book to be empowering, I think it scares parents instead.

A Must Read!
This is a must read for not only spec. ed teachers but regular ed. teachers as well. Dr. Shaywitz is a dedicated individual that has really hit the nail on the head with reading instruction....no guess work here, scientifically based reading instruction for true success! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dyslexia    2. Dyslexic children    3. Education    4. Education / Teaching    5. Education Of Students With Learning Disabilities    6. Learning Disabilities    7. Learning Disorders (Neurological Aspects)    8. Reading    9. Reading disability    10. Reference    11. Remedial teaching    12. Special Education - Communicative Disorders    13. Special Education - Learning Disabled    14. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    15. Family & Relationships / Learning Disabilities   

Reviews (20)

AMAZING. The bible of literacy.
This is the book you need for creating and maintaining a solid and authentic classroom literacy program. "The First Twenty Days" alone is extreemely helpful. You can start small and grow as you feel comfortable. A little overwhelming at times but worth it!

Guiding Readers and Writers
Excellent resource.Everything needed to start a reading/writing/word study workshop.My book is full of sticky notes of things to use!

Excellent Resource for Teachers !
Definitely one of the most useful and comprehensive reading and writing resources that I have ever purchased for my professional library.The price is very reasonable as well! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition and exercises    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. English language    5. Language arts (Elementary)    6. Reading (Elementary)    7. Study and teaching    8. Teaching Methods & Materials - Language Arts    9. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    10. English    11. English language: reading skills    12. English language: writing skills    13. Teaching of a specific subject   

Reviews (8)

Seems great--on paper
This book is one that may seem to have great and ideas--in theory!In practice?Well, that's another thing. There are a number of things I agree with wholeheartedly: think-pair-share, conferencing in which you meet with the child rather than vice versa, opportunities to immediately apply the concepts and strategies of a lesson, time to "debrief"....BUT, my teaching cannot be via a multitude of mini lessons--the scope of what must be covered in a school year does not allow for this.I also felt that the author's approach was a bit "me, me, me" with the children; she recommends the teacher making the summation in order to control time.In this vein she also mentions the importance of student participation yet she wants to strongly control this.When children share, it is good for the whole group to be included rather than just one partner--yes, this takes some time and it is an art to keep things moving smoothly but many ideas can be shared.This is a great opportunity to have children exposed to thinking outside the box or, perhaps, outside their comfort zone. I agree with the author that young children appreciate a routine but to do the same thing day in and day out can encourage the children to begin to perform like automatons.With today's demands for differentiation, this would create a lot of extra work for teachers.
Excellent for teachers launching Reader's Workshop!
This book is excellent for any teacher who is launching reader's workshop in their classroom.I will be teaching first grade this coming school year and have been reading this book to help me prepare.What I really love about the book is that it gives you a scope and sequence for what units of study you could teach throughout the school year, provides examples of mini-lessons you can teach, as well as being very explicit about what a reader's workshop mini-lesson should look like and what reader's workshop should look like in general.Kathy Collins writes in a way that all teacher can relate and includes some funny anecdotes about her own teaching-this is a must have!

Wonderful Book
This was a great and useful book. It helps readers think about how to apply the reading workshop to the clasroom of young children filled with emerging readers. Collins writes in a conversational way with important suggestions and backround. She shares openly and intelligently how to do the work and relays how the plans worked in her classes. Very helpful and readable! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Language Experience Approach    4. Reading (Primary)    5. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading   

Subjects:  1. Alphabet    2. Education    3. Elementary    4. Elementary School Language Arts    5. English language    6. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    7. Orthography and spelling    8. Problems, exercises, etc    9. Teaching At The Elementary School Level    10. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    11. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Reading    12. Primary / junior schools   

Reviews (3)

I love it
This is one of the best book I've purchase to teach my daughter.
Letter Name Spellers
This is a great resource for first and second grade teachers.Many of the skills addressed are those encountered in your classroom daily.Great companion to Words Their Way, and to offer a hands on opportunity for phonics, spelling and decoding words.

A great teacher tool!
I've used Words Their Way for the last year and loved the strategies. This particular book gives lots more sorts for spellers in the letter name/ alphabetic spelling stage.It includes consonant blends and diagraphs as well as more short vowel sorts.These hands on materials have been a great help to me in teaching my mildly disabled elementary students, but all the regular lower grade teachers at my school are raving, and using these great strategies and materials. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Elementary    4. Elementary School Language Arts    5. English language    6. Orthography and spelling    7. Teaching At The Elementary School Level    8. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    9. Word recognition    10. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Reading    11. Primary / junior schools   

Reviews (6)

Crack the Code
Road to the Code is just loaded with information and ideas for use in the classroom.Begins at the beginning with phonological awareness activities and prodeeds forward.Great source for instruction and differentiation.Super !!!

Road to the Code
I think this is a great program for teaching phonemic awareness.It has almost everything that you need.I would recommend it to anyone working with young children or those with special needs that are struggling with reading readiness.

outstanding
Rode to the Code gave me a great program on how to help my struggling students with phonemic awareness. Over time, these students began to understand the big picture of what reading is all about. We are matching letters and sounds and recognizing rhyming words and rhyming word parts. Thank you Rode to the Code! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children    2. Education / Teaching    3. English language    4. Language    5. Medical    6. Pediatrics    7. Phonetic method    8. Phonetics    9. Phonetics & Phonics    10. Reading    11. Study and teaching (Early chil    12. Study and teaching (Early childhood)    13. Teaching Methods & Materials - Language Arts    14. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    15. Language teaching & learning material & coursework    16. Paediatric medicine   

Reviews (1)

Excellent Introduction to SA Spellers
This book is a great guide to teaching word study to SA learners.The reading is more simplistic and easier to understand than Words Their Way while offering appropriate sorts for this stage.It gives a more in depth view of SA spellers with an excellent sequence of instruction.It's only downfall is that many of the sorts are a little too complicated or have too many headers.It also only offers one sort for each part of a stage, even though some students may need to work within a sort for more than a week.Regardless of these negative aspects, I have really enjoyed this book and it is a great resource for any teacher's or school's library. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alphabet    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Elementary    5. Elementary School Language Arts    6. English Phonetics    7. English language    8. Language    9. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    10. Linguistics    11. Orthography and spelling    12. Problems, exercises, etc    13. Suffixes and prefixes    14. Syllabication    15. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    16. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Reading    17. English    18. Teaching of a specific subject   

Reviews (65)

Reading made easy, even for a 4-year-old
Wow! I can't say enough good things about this book. I purchased it less than 2 months ago and my son is over halfway through already. I don't normally believe in teaching kids to read at such a young age, but my 4-year-old had already learned all his letters and the sounds they make and was begging me to teach him to read. So I downloaded the first two chapters of this book off the author's website and was so impressed, I promptly bought the book. This book makes teaching reading sooooo easy, even for a parent with zero training in education. Each page takes only a couple of minutes to do, which means you can make your lessons really, really brief (like less than 5 minutes a day) and still make significant progress. To keep the child's interest, each chapter has illustrated short stories that grow increasingly complex as the child advances. Thanks to do this book, my child is reading really well already and teaching him has been a real joy for me. But don't take my word for it- go to The reading lesson website, download the first two chapters, and see for yourself.
Simple, Effective and Inexpensive
I think this is the best book one can buy for a small child.It isvery simple to follow and needs no learning time for a parent.
WoW!My 3 year old can read!
I bought this book to preview before starting our kindergarten homeschool program. My 3 yr old ds was so interested that I showed him the first page and went over the instructions. I didn't think he'd be too interested at this point. Boy was I wrong :) He loves his reading lesson everyday and though it has only been a few weeks, he is already sounding out simple words with ease. This book is well organized and simple without being boring. You can go as fast or slow as your child needs.I can't recommend it enough. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Language Experience Approach    4. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    5. Education / Language Experience Approach    6. Juvenile software    7. Phonetic method    8. Reading (Primary)    9. Teaching skills & techniques