Packed with easy-to-use tools and resources, this book presents intensive intervention strategies for K–5 students with severe and persistent reading difficulties. Filling a key need, the authors describe specific ways to further intensify instruction when students continue to struggle. Chapters address all the fundamental components of reading--phonological awareness, phonics and word recognition, reading fluency, oral language, language and reading comprehension, and writing to read. The authors discuss the design and implementation of intensive instruction and provide effective teaching techniques and activities. Grounded in the principles of data-based individualization, the book includes concrete recommendations for determining students' particular needs and monitoring their progress.

Drawing on examples of teaching from elementary school classrooms, this timely book for practitioners explains why LGBTQ-inclusive literacy instruction is possible, relevant, and necessary in grades K–5. The authors show how expanding the English language arts curriculum to include representations of LGBTQ people and themes will benefit all students, allowing them to participate in a truly inclusive classroom. The text describes three different approaches that address the limitations, pressures, and possibilities that teachers in various contexts face around these topics. The authors make clear what LGBTQ-inclusive literacy teaching can look like in practice, including what teachers might say and how students might respond. “Reading the Rainbow is a terrific, nuanced, practical resource that many ELA teachers should come to value. Children in their classrooms, whatever their identities, will be the better for it.” —Mombian “Reading the Rainbow invites us to enact justice in our classrooms as we honor our students’ rights and work to foster equity.” —From the Foreword by Mariana Souto-Manning, Teachers College, Columbia University “The field has been hungry for this book! It will allow elementary teachers to make immediate and impactful change in their classrooms.” —Elizabeth Dutro, University of Colorado Boulder “This is a warm and vigorous invitation for teachers to create more equitable classrooms where the full humanity of students is honored.” —Mollie V. Blackburn, Ohio State University

Reading for Information in Elementary School: Content Literacy Strategies to Build Comprehension was written to give k-5 teachers the tools they need to lay an educational groundwork that promotes students' success with informational text from the early grades. Packed with research-based, classroom-proven strategies, the book follows a before, during, and after reading format that models the most effective approach to reading for information, focusing on the processes required to develop content literacy. You'll meet the teachers, sit in on their lessons, witness their students' responses, and come away from this book with a model for teaching your students to read successfully for information and a handbook of proven strategies to implement. Features: Examples of instructional strategies-This book follows six elementary teachers (grades K-5) as they utilize strategies with informational texts. These examples are detailed and include student and teacher dialogue to provide readers with the sense they are watching the lesson unhold. Each focus instructional strategy is research-based-The instructional strategies outlined in this book have a research base and have been implemented in schools across the country. Margin notes provide readers with additional information and resources-Readers are referred to other sources of information at common places that they may have questions. A clear process for organizing instruction is provided-The strategies and texts presented in the book follow the before/during/after instructional organization used by teachers to foster reading comprehension. Book covers of informational texts-Each chapter features the covers and bibliographical information of some of the best informational texts available today.

The Common Core State Standards encourage teachers to use close reading as a means to help students access complex text. Many literacy experts believe close reading has the power to create strong, independent readers. But what does that really mean, and how does it work in the classroom?This book is your must-have guide to getting started! It provides step-by-step strategies and scaffolds for teaching close reading and improving students’ comprehension of complex texts. You will learn how to teach close reading based on text type, how to transition students through increasingly challenging texts, and how to use close reading as a springboard for close writes and close talks. Special Features: • An easy-to-use framework for creating a close reading lesson • Close reading strategies for a variety of literary and informational subgenres • Ideas for teaching close reading to meet specific comprehension objectives based on the Common Core, including analyzing text structure and evaluating argument • Suggestions for helping students read with increased levels of rigor • A clear explanation of what text complexity really means and how it varies by student • Scaffolds to help students at all ability levels do a close reading • Guidelines and procedures for close talks—purposeful, focused discussions about text • Procedures for close writes that vary based on genre and student ability level In addition, each chapter includes study guide questions to help you apply the ideas in the book to your own classroom. With this practical book, you will have all the tools you need to make close reading a reality!

Investigates the art of reading by examining each aspect of reading, problems encountered, and tells how to combat them.

Discover the essential thinking tools you’ve been missing with The Great Mental Models series by Shane Parrish, New York Times bestselling author and the mind behind the acclaimed Farnam Street blog and “The Knowledge Project” podcast. This first book in the series is your guide to learning the crucial thinking tools nobody ever taught you. Time and time again, great thinkers such as Charlie Munger and Warren Buffett have credited their success to mental models–representations of how something works that can scale onto other fields. Mastering a small number of mental models enables you to rapidly grasp new information, identify patterns others miss, and avoid the common mistakes that hold people back. The Great Mental Models: Volume 1, General Thinking Concepts shows you how making a few tiny changes in the way you think can deliver big results. Drawing on examples from history, business, art, and science, this book details nine of the most versatile, all-purpose mental models you can use right away to improve your decision making and productivity. This book will teach you how to: Avoid blind spots when looking at problems. Find non-obvious solutions. Anticipate and achieve desired outcomes. Play to your strengths, avoid your weaknesses, … and more. The Great Mental Models series demystifies once elusive concepts and illuminates rich knowledge that traditional education overlooks. This series is the most comprehensive and accessible guide on using mental models to better understand our world, solve problems, and gain an advantage.

Designed for anyone interested in current educational theory and practice. Up-to-date, research-based theory and practical applications. Perfect for staff development sessions.