Effective Instruction for Middle School Students with Reading Difficulties

Effective Instruction for Middle School Students with Reading Difficulties

Authors: Carolyn A. Denton, Ph.D., Sharon Vaughn, Ph.D., Jade Wexler, Ph.D., Deanna Bryan, Deborah S. Reed, Ed.D.
K-12

This book arms language arts teachers with the lessons, strategies, and foundational knowledge they need to resolve older students' reading difficulties and increase their chances for academic success.
Ideal for use with struggling readers in Grades 6-8, this book clearly lays out the fundamentals of effective teaching for adolescents with reading difficulties.

Reading problems don't disappear when students enter middle school - recent studies show that nearly a quarter of today's eighth graders aren't able to read at a basic level. This book provides teachers the tools needed to resolve older students' reading difficulties and strengthen their academic skills.

Key Features

• select and administer assessments for comprehension, fluency, and word recognition
• use assessment results to plan individualized instruction
• apply research-supported instructional practices
• develop flexible grouping systems for targeted instruction
• set manageable short-term learning goals with students
• keep the pacing of instruction quick and engaging
• give appropriate feedback
• monitor student progress over time
• promote generalization of new reading skills
• provide effective interventions within a school-wide Response to Intervention framework

To help teachers incorporate evidence-based practices into their classroom instruction, they'll get more than 20 complete, step-by-step sample lessons for strengthening adolescents' reading skills. These lessons provide explicit models of successful instruction with suggested teacher scripts and planning checklists.

With this practical guide, middle school teachers will help struggling readers develop the skills they need to master complex academic content.

Skills Improved

• Fluency
• Comprehension
• Word recognition
• Vocabulary

Reviews

1. Linda Mason, The Pennsylvania State University: "This timely evidence-based book will be a valuable resource for middle schools striving to meet reading standards."
2. Robert Reid, University of Nebraska: "An outstanding book that every reading teacher should have... written in an approachable manner and full of practical tips."
3. Jessica Hagaman, University of Nebraska - Omaha: "An outstanding resource for both preservice and practicing middle school teachers... provides user-friendly, research-based information."
4. Virginia Berninger, NICHD-funded Center: "A practical, evidence-based way to improve student learning outcomes."
5. Joan Sedita, Keys to Literacy: "A great sourcebook that provides detailed sample lessons that can be used immediately to teach reading strategies."