Independent Reading: The Meeting of the Minds
Years ago, Steve Allen hosted and moderated a terrific television show titled Meeting of Minds. Steve resurrected some of the greatest thinkers from different eras to discuss a wide range of ideas and...
View ArticleTo Read or Not to Read: That is the Question
In terms of teaching literature, I live in two worlds. I am an English-language arts teacher and a reading specialist. Although the two worlds would seem to be quite complementary, this is not always...
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The 18 Reasons Not to Use Accelerated Reader
Accelerated Reader™ (AR) is a simple software concept that was at the right time (late 1980s) and right place (public schools during a transition from whole language to phonics instruction) that has...
View ArticleThe Dos and Don’ts of Differentiated Instruction
With the Response to Intervention (RTI) model now being incorporated into many school districts today, it has become increasingly important to help frame the differentiated instruction (DI) discussion...
View ArticleTurning Dependent into Independent Readers
The new Common Core State Standards for English-language Arts makes a compelling case for not doing business as usual in our ELA classrooms. That business consists of the traditional “sage on the...
View ArticleIndependent Reading Homework
I have always assigned independent reading, usually with the accountability of journals, logs, quizzes, book reports, AR, etc. Success rate has varied depending upon the school. At my current 70% AFDC...
View ArticleWhy and How to Teach Complex Text
A growing body of research presents a challenge to current K-12 reading/English-language Arts instruction. In essence, we need to “up” the level of text complexity and provide greater opportunities for...
View ArticleFree Independent Reading Resources
As an MA reading specialist and English-language Arts teacher, I know the value of independent reading. Despite our wonderful instruction in Greek and Latinates, context clues, and vocabulary in...
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Why Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) Doesn’t Work
O.K. So my title is a good hook. I’m an ELA teacher, so you’d expect no less. However, I’m also an MA reading specialist, so you’d expect me to be passionate about getting students to read and read...
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Teaching Your Child to Read Well
One of the true joys and responsibilities of parenthood is teaching your child to read. But wait… isn’t that the teacher’s job? Of course it is, but the best approach is always an effective and...
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Schoolwide Independent Reading Program
As an MA reading specialist, author, and frequent blogger on independent reading, I am constantly receiving posts and emails regarding the Accelerated Reading program. I frequently joke that I wish I...
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Don’t Teach Reading Comprehension
Don’t Teach Reading Comprehension Okay, I’ll admit it; the article title is a bit of an attention grabber. However, as an MA reading specialist and author of plenty of reading programs over the years,...
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How to Practice Reading Comprehension
Don’t Teach Reading Comprehension Well, I stirred up somewhat of a ruckus with my companion article titled “Don’t Teach Reading Comprehension” and I think I understand why. Admittedly, the hook is...
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English-language Arts Standards
Common Core State Standards Standards-based education is now the norm in public and most parochial schools. Having largely captured the focus of the educational reform movement over the last 25 years,...
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Reading Incentive Ideas
Reading Incentive Programs I’m not active on Facebook, but my wife passed along this post, “This Barbershop is Getting Kids to Read.” Kids are encouraged to read out loud during their haircuts at this...
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Reading Counts! Claims and Counterclaims
AR or RC? The purpose of this article on Reading Counts! is threefold: 1. To briefly summarize the basics of the Reading Counts! (RC) independent reading management program 2. To analyze three key...
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Movie First, Book Second
Book before Novel Want your students to get the most out of reading a class novel? Want more of your students to actually read the whole book? What to build internal monitoring of the text and increase...
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