Next STEPS in Literacy Instruction

Connecting Assessments to Effective Interventions

Includes guidance on using screening diagnostic, and progress monitoring assessments!

Susan M. Smartt, Ph.D.
Deborah R. Glaser, Ed.D.

Contents

About the Downloads

About the Authors

Foreword by Jan Hasbrouck, Ph.D.

Preface

Acknowledgments

I Introduction

1 Introduction to Next STEPS

• Becoming a Judicious Teacher
• Understanding Response to Intervention and Multi-tiered Systems of Support
• Assessments in Next STEPS
• Screening Assessment
• Progress-Monitoring Assessment
• Evidence-Based Programs and Multi-tiered Systems of Support
• Using the Core Reading Program With Struggling Readers
• Next STEPS Design: How We Teach to Reach
• Conclusion

2 Using Next STEPS to Teach Struggling Readers

• What We Teach
• How We Teach
• Effective Models and Instructional Elements
• Effective Teacher Behaviors
• Motivation
• Using Data to Create Small Groups

II Applying STEPS to the Components of Reading

3 Phoneme Awareness

• Introduction to Phoneme Awareness
• Teaching Phoneme Awareness
• Assessing Phoneme Awareness
• Here We Go: Ready to Teach!
• Phoneme Awareness Practice Activities
  • Phoneme Isolation Activities
  • Phoneme Segmentation Activities
  • Phoneme Blending Activities
• Summary

4 Phonics: Decoding, Encoding, and Word Recognition

• Introduction
• Reading Research: What Is Orthographic Mapping?
• Word Recognition
• Assessments for Word Recognition Phases
• Planning Letter Recognition Instruction
• Early Phonics Practice Activities
  • Teaching Letter Recognition
  • Improving Letter-Naming Fluency

5 Fluency

• Introduction
• Here We Go: Ready to Teach!
• Fluency Practice Activities
• Repeated Readings
• High-Frequency Words
• Encoding With High-Frequency Words
• Reading Fluency
• Conclusion: Checking Progress Using Oral Reading Fluency Norms

6 Reading Comprehension

• Introduction: Comprehension—Processes and Products
• The Text, the Reader, and the Activity
• Descriptions of Measures of Comprehension
• The Role of Listening Comprehension in Reading Comprehension
• Here We Go: Ready to Teach!
• Comprehension Practice Activities
• Monitoring Comprehension
• Sentence Comprehension

7 Vocabulary

III Weaving It All Together

8 Weaving Elements Together for a Lifetime of Reading

• Planning Integrated Component Instruction
• Instructional Planning Guidelines: Integrate the Components

Appendix A: Quick Reveal Phoneme Awareness Tool

Appendix B: Acadience Reading Diagnostic CFOL Checklist

Glossary

References

Index

About the Authors

Susan M. Smartt, Ph.D. holds a doctorate in school psychology from Tennessee State University and a master’s degree in special education and reading from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. She has engaged in research focusing on improving teacher preparation for reading teachers and has provided educational consulting services. Dr. Smartt has served in many roles throughout her career, including classroom teacher, reading coach, reading specialist, principal, university faculty member, and researcher.

Deborah R. Glaser, Ed.D. is a national literacy consultant and author known for helping teachers incorporate reading science into their instruction.

Foreword

Teaching students how to read is complex, especially for those who struggle. This book provides practical guidance and reflects years of experience from its authors, who embody the essential characteristics of superb teachers. Their commitment to evidence-based practices is evident throughout the text.

Preface

In this second edition, the authors have updated information concerning assessment and reading instruction to support teachers in enabling students to become proficient readers. The STEPS framework assists in designing small-group reading intervention, ensuring systematic and differentiated instruction. This edition addresses current best practices and provides updated activities for engaging struggling readers during small-group instruction.

Science-Informed Instruction

What Are the STEPS?

The STEPS framework includes:

1. Set-Up: Review and warm-up
2. Teach: Explicit teaching with modeling and explanation
3. Engage: Practice with corrective feedback
4. Practice Activity: Apply skills through practice activities to build mastery

These are explored in greater detail in Chapter 1 and throughout the book, with a focus on integrating components of reading into effective instruction.

What's New in This Edition?

New features include:

• Detailed information on implementing multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS)
• Updated assessment charts and guidance for selecting appropriate assessments
• New activities targeting necessary practice for struggling readers
• Enhanced information on the phases of reading development and instructional strategies to support them.

This book aims to help teachers develop mastery in small-group differentiated reading instruction and make data-driven decisions for effective interventions.