Four Powerful Strategies for Struggling Readers, Grades 3-8: Small Group Instruction That Improves Comprehension

Research-based strategies for reading instruction often concentrate on reading readiness and Reading First skills for Grades PreK-2, but this important new book focuses on instruction that works for readers still struggling with reading comprehension in Grades 3-8. Sorting through the myriad of reading strategies and skills listed in state standards, local curricula, basal readers, and professional publications, the author here identifies and emphasizes four 'power strategies' worth spending time teaching when the goal is understanding text: summarizing, making meaningful connections, self-regulating, and inferring. Covering these four strategies individually and collectively, the author examines how, why, and when to use each strategy; specific teaching techniques to use with each strategy; what efficient use of each strategy looks like; assessment measures to use with each strategy; and much more .

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Joseph Yukish Preface Acknowledgments About the Author 1. Foundations Recent Findings From Comprehension Strategies Why Four Powerful Strategies? The Four Powerful Comprehension Strategies Summary of Recent Findings From Comprehension Research Reading Comprehension Instruction Comprehension Instructional Activities and Practices Research on the Transfer of Learning What Is Transfer? A Closer Look at Transfer Theory Summmary of Reading Comprehension Instruction 2. Gradual Release to Accelerate Progress Gradual Release Lesson Design Conclusions and Reflections 3. Putting the Strategies Into Practice: Summarizing What Is Summarizing? When Does a Reader Summarize? Why Do Readers Summarize? Sample Lessons for the Strategy Summarizing Summarizing Across Content Areas Conclusions and Reflections 4. Putting the Strategies Into Practice: Creating Meaningful Connections What Is Creating Meaningful Connections? When Does a Reader Create Meaningful Connections? Why Do Readers Create Meaningful Connections? Sample Lessons for the Strategy Creating Meaningful Connections Making Meaningful Connections Across Content Areas Conclusions and Reflections 5. Putting the Strategies Into Practice: Self-Regulating What Is Self-Regulating? When Does a Reader Self-Regulate? Why Do Readers Self-Regulate? Sample Lessons for the Strategy Self-Regulating Self-Regulating Across Content Areas Conclusions and Reflections 6. Putting the Strategies Into Practice: Inferring What Is Inferring? When Does a Reader Infer? Why Do Readers Infer? Sample Lessons for the Strategy Inferring Inferring Across Content Areas Conclusions and Reflections 7. Conclusion Glossary: Defining Terms Appendix 1: Thinking About How We Use Strategies to Comprehend Appendix 2: Focusing on Comprehension Strategies in a Small Group Gradual Release Design Lesson for Struggling Readers: Observation Form References Index

About the Author :
Lois A. Lanning, PhD, is an independent education consultant.  She presents and works with districts at the international, national, and state levels in the areas of literacy and Concept- Based Curriculum design. This book is a natural extension of her three previous best-selling books in the Corwin Press Publisher’s Concept-Based collection, including Designing a Concept-Based Curriculum for English Language Arts (2013), by Lois A. Lanning; Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction for the Thinking Classroom (2nd ed., 2017), by H. Lynn Erickson, Lois A. Lanning, and Rachel French; and Transitioning to Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction (2014), by H. Lynn Erickson and Lois A. Lanning. In addition, Lois is the author of the bestselling book, Four Powerful Strategies for Struggling Readers, Grades 3-8: Small Group Instruction That Improves Comprehension, a joint publication between Corwin Press and the International Reading Association (2009), and a chapter in The Best of Corwin: Differentiated Instruction in Literacy, Math, and Science (2011), Leslie Laud, Editor. Lois was a classroom teacher, K-12 reading consultant, special education teacher, elementary school principal, district curriculum director, adjunct professor, and finally, an assistant superintendent of schools for the last 12 years of her career in public schools. Lois is the recipient of numerous educational awards and recognitions. Her hobbies include reading, biking, hiking, and traveling. Lois currently lives in Massachusetts with her husband. She has two children and two grandsons, whom she absolutely adores.

Review :
“These four powerful comprehension strategies come to the rescue with detailed and engaging lessons and examples for guided reading instruction. The clarity and insight that Lanning brings to the complex area of reading comprehension make this book a must-read for elementary and middle school reading specialists and classroom teachers.” "Makes teaching comprehension strategies comprehensible, without oversimplifying the complexity of the process. Teachers will come away with the ability to readily transfer four powerful, research-based strategies to their work with struggling readers in small group settings. Lanning is the consummate teacher as she practices what she preaches to make the ideas accessible to the reader." "The information is critical to the needs of children in the intermediate grades. It supports what my school district has been focusing on, and the strategies provided are clear and concise." "Lanning reduces the long list of skills and strategies found in curriculum documents into four key comprehension strategies, setting out a very workable plan for enhancing reading comprehension." "From theory to practical application, this book is a snapshot of lifelong dedication to understanding what works best for kids, especially kids who struggle, and then doing something about it."