Reach All Readers: Using the Science of Reading to Transform Your Literacy Instruction

by Anna Geiger

Overview

The essential guide to teaching literacy skills to K-3 students

Reach All Readers is filled with practical tools for every kindergarten and early grade educator. This book addresses the science behind how students learn to read and how educators can apply this information in their classrooms every day. It is jam packed with research on literacy, spelled out in an easy-for-anyone-to-understand way. You'll also find evidence-based routines and activities to apply in the classroom. Learn the “how” of teaching literacy, and gain an understanding of why these approaches work. Charts and graphics illustrate concepts, so you can visualize how the big picture connects to practical applications and approaches. With Reach All Readers, teaching literacy is a breeze!

This reader-friendly guide to the science of reading education will help you improve your reading instruction with research-backed strategies. Literacy expert Anna Geiger breaks down complex concepts and presents them in an easy-to-digest format. Then, she offers concrete ideas you can implement immediately.

• Get all the must-know information about K-3 literacy education in one place
• Understand the latest research on how students learn and get tools for putting that research into practice
• Follow concrete lesson plans and practical tips to level up your literacy teaching
• Develop a big-picture understanding of literacy education so you know how best to help each and every student

Anyone responsible for teaching K-3 students reading, writing, and literacy skills—including teachers, homeschoolers, tutors, parents, and administrators—will want a copy of Reach All Readers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781394205653
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	07/23/2024
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	46,930
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Anna Geiger, M.Ed., is a former classroom teacher who currently serves teachers through her website, The Measured Mom. She has shared articles, activities, and practical advice on teaching young readers and writers since 2013. Anna also hosts Triple R Teaching, a weekly podcast on literacy and the science of reading.

Table of Contents

Foreword xiii

Acknowledgments xv

About the Author xvii

Introduction 1

How This Book Is Organized 1

Chapter 1 The Big Picture 3

The Whole Word Method 3

Why Johnny Can’t Read 3

Jeanne Chall’s Research 4

Whole Language 4

The Report of the National Reading Panel 5

Balanced Literacy’s Beginnings 5

Emily Hanford’s Reporting 5

Scientifically-Based Research 7

The Simple View of Reading 9

Scarborough’s Reading Rope 11

How the Brain Learns to Read 12

How We Learn Words 14

Key Things to Remember 18

Learn More 19

Notes 19

Chapter 2 The Science of Learning 23

What’s Memory Got to Do with It? 23

Explicit Instruction 25

How to Ensure Your Students Remember What You Teach 35

Key Things to Remember 38

Learn More 38

Notes 38

Chapter 3 Oral Language 41

The Five Domains of Oral Language 41

Oral Language Routines 43

Make Your Classroom Language- Rich 49

Key Things to Remember 53

Free Resources 53

Learn More 54

Notes 54

Chapter 4 Phonemic Awareness and the Alphabetic Principle 57

Phonological Awareness 57

Phonemic Awareness: An Overview 60

Teaching Phonemic Awareness 67

Key Things to Remember 80

Free Resources 80

Learn More 80

Notes 81

Chapter 5 Phonics 83

Code Emphasis Versus Meaning Emphasis 83

Types of Phonics Instruction 86

Guidelines for Effective Phonics Instruction 90

The Debate Between Print-to-Speech and Speech-to-Print 131

Key Things to Remember 132

Free Resources 133

Learn More 133

Notes 134

Chapter 6 Fluency 141

The Components of Fluency 141

Fluency and Comprehension 143

Developing Automaticity at the Letter and Word Level 143

Developing Fluency at the Text Level 146

Key Things to Remember 154

Free Resources 155

Learn More 155

Notes 155

Chapter 7 Vocabulary 159

How to Decide Which Words to Teach: The Three Word Tiers 160

Teaching Individual Tier Two Words 162

Teaching Tier Three Words 165

Teaching Word-Learning Strategies 168

Key Things to Remember 172

Free resources 172

Learn More 172

Notes 172

Chapter 8 Comprehension 175

What Is Comprehension? 175

Teaching Sentence Comprehension 180

Reading Comprehension Strategies 185

Putting It All Together 195

Key Things to Remember 197

Learn More 197

Free Resources 197

Notes 198

Chapter 9 Linking Reading and Writing 201

Teach Handwriting 202

Teach Spelling 203

Teach Students to Write About What They Read 206

Teach That Sentences Contain a “Who” and a “Do” 206

Teach Students to Expand Simple Sentences 207

Teach Students to Combine Sentences 210

Teach Students to Connect Sentences 210

Teach Students to Write Paragraphs 212

Other Ways for Students to Respond to Text in Writing 214

Key Things to Remember 214

Free Resources 214

Learn More 215

Notes 215

Chapter 10 Dyslexia 217

What Is Dyslexia? 217

Help for Dyslexia 222

Key Things to Remember 223

Learn More 223

Notes 224

Chapter 11 Using MTSS to Reach All Readers 225

Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) 225

Delivering Tier 1 Instruction 231

Designing Your Daily Schedule 237

Key Things to Remember 238

Free Resources 239

Learn More 239

Notes 239

Conclusion 241

Glossary 243

Index 249

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Anna Geiger has managed, with this book, to fill a special gap in the reading instruction library. She has written both from the heart and from a critical, open mind, of her painful but illuminating discoveries about the reading process and how best to support children on their reading journeys. Educators will feel safe, challenged, and informed in equal measure."
—Pamela Snow, PhD, MAPS Professor of Cognitive Psychology and Co-Director, Science of Language and Reading (SOLAR) Lab, La Trobe University, Australia

“Reach All Readers is a gift for elementary teachers—and their students! Anna Geiger deftly packs the what, why, and how of the science of reading into one user-friendly, empowering book that you'll keep coming back to again and again."
—Kate Winn, Teacher & Host of IDA Ontario's Reading Road Trip Podcast

“We’ve long needed Reach All Readers, a book on effective reading instruction written for teachers, by a teacher. Anna presents what she’s learned about the science of reading and instruction in an accessible and useful text. You’ll want to read it cover-to-cover, discuss chapters with colleagues, and hang on to it as a reference book.”
—Margaret Goldberg, Co-founder of The Right to Read Project

“Anna Geiger doesn't just present the science; she equips educators with practical strategies and resources, translating them into actionable knowledge that can be readily applied in the classroom. Whether you're a seasoned teacher or just starting out, this book empowers you to become a more informed and effective practitioner. Aptly named, Reach All Readers illustrates Geiger’s knack for making the science of reading less “science-y.”
—Faith Borkowsky, Founder of High Five Literacy, LLC, Author, and Co-host of The Literacy View Podcast

"Anna has been able to capture the complexities of implementing the science of reading and make it seem simple and tangible to any educator who wants to make a difference in the lives of their students. This will make a perfect book study text for schools and teachers across the country."
—Brent Conway, Assistant Superintendent, Pentucket Regional School District

“My own science of reading journey is a lot like Anna's; I put a lot of hours into self-education. I wish this book was available when I started! It's established that students learn to read best when their teachers follow a strong scope and sequence and provide direct, systematic instruction. Teachers learning about the science of reading need the same. Every page and chapter of Reach All Readers equips teachers to best serve all students. As an SOR geek I couldn’t put it down. As a dedicated practitioner, I will return to it often.”
—Virginia Quinn-Mooney, Host of Science of Reading Happy Hour, Moderator and Group Expert for “What I Should Have Learned in College”

“Anna’s clear and concise writing makes complex topics easy to understand. Packed with valuable info, her book is a go-to resource for elementary teachers and deserves a spot on your bookshelf.”
—Lindsay Kemeny, author of 7 Mighty Moves: Research-Backed, Classroom-Tested Strategies to Ensure K-to-3 Reading Success