The Principal′s Guide to Raising Reading Achievement

Elaine McEwan has written "The Principal's Guide to Raising Achievement" with three goals in mind: 1) to convince school principals of the power that rests in them and their faculty to create a "school of readers"; 2) to introduce the most current research in reading instruction so principals and their faculty can make informed decisions; and 3) to shore the eight key components principals need to achieve their goals. The author explores some of the reasons why students can't read and suggests focusing only on those things that can be changed. Also summarized is the running debate between proponents of phonics and whole language, and reasons why reading instruction cannot be an "either-or" proposition. the book also described the eight key components that need to be in place to create a "school of readers," and sets forth the essential learnings that need to occur at each instructional level. Remedial reading and helping the at-risk and learning disabled child are also covered, as well as thirty-plus things you can do tomorrow to raise reading achievement in schools. There are many useful appendixes with practical information for immediate use. This book is for elementary school prinicpals, as well as anyone concerned with successfully teaching all children to read.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Why Our Kids Aren′t Learning to Read The Great Debate Phonics Versus Whole Language What Do You Need to Make it Happen? The Essential Learnings What Students Need to Know: Grades K-8 Remedial Reading What to Do When Kids Can′t Read Thirty Plus Things You Can Do Tommorow To Raise Reading Achievement

About the Author :
Elaine K. McEwan is an educational consultant with The McEwan-Adkins Group, offering professional development for educators to assist them in meeting the challenges of literacy learning in Grades Pre K-6. A former teacher, librarian, principal, and assistant superintendent for instruction in several suburban Chicago school districts, Elaine is the award-winning and best-selling author of more than three dozen books for educators. Her Corwin Press titles include Raising Reading Achievement in Middle and High Schools: Five Simple-to-Follow Strategies for Principals, Second Edition (2006), Seven Strategies of Highly Effective Readers: Using Cognitive Research to Boost K-8 Achievement (2004), Ten Traits of Highly Effective Principals: From Good to Great Performance (2003), Making Sense of Research: What’s Good, What’s Not, and How to Tell the Difference (2003), Seven Steps to Effective Instructional Leadership, Second Edition (2003), Teach Them ALL to Read: Catching the Kids Who Fall through the Cracks (2002), and Ten Traits of Highly Effective Teachers: How to Hire, Mentor, and Coach Successful Teachers (2001). McEwan was honored by the Illinois Principals Association as an outstanding instructional leader, by the Illinois State Board of Education with an Award of Excellence in the Those Who Excel Program, and by the National Association of Elementary School Principals as the National Distinguished Principal from Illinois for 1991. She received her undergraduate degree in education from Wheaton College and advanced degrees in library science (MA) and educational administration (EdD) from Northern Illinois University.

Review :
I found the Principal′s Guide to Raising Reading Achievement to be an excellent source of information for any elementary school principal who is concerned about the level of reading achievement in his/her school. The book contains not only an excellent and balanced discussion of some of the major controversies in the area of reading instruction, but also shows how these controversies should not be a stumbling block to providing a balanced, comprehensive instructional program for children.