Resources
"Teaching Reading is Rocket Science, What Expert Teachers of Reading Should Know and Be Able to Do" by Dr. Louisa Moats
Article: Teaching Reading Is Rocket Science
Louisa C. Moats has been a teacher, psychologist, researcher, graduate school faculty member, and author of many influential scientific journal articles, books, and policy papers on the topics of reading, spelling, language, and teacher preparation. After 15 years as a licensed psychologist specializing in evaluation and consultation with individuals who experienced reading, writing, and language difficulties, she served as a site director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development’s Early Interventions Project and research advisor and consultant with Sopris Learning.
**The views and opinions expressed in any third-party resource do not necessarily reflect those of the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and do not imply an endorsement by ADE.
Featured Book
Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers, 3rd ed.
by Louisa C. Moats, Ed. D.
For two decades, Speech to Print has been a bestselling, widely adopted textbook on explicit, high-quality literacy instruction. Now the anticipated third edition is here, fully updated with ten years of new research, a complete package of supporting materials, and expanded guidance on the how of assessment and instruction in today’s classrooms.
For companion materials, free resources, and to order the text: Brookes Publishing
Archived Books:
Fundamentals of Literacy Instruction & Assessment, PreK-6, Second Edition
Edited by Martha C. Hougen, Ph. D., & Susan M. Smartt, Ph.D.
Understand the science of reading and how to implement evidence-based instruction to increase the reading and writing achievement of pre-K–6 students, including those at risk for reading difficulties. Fully revised and updated, this core text covers the research base for structured literacy instruction and practical guidance on the essential components of literacy instruction.
Want to learn more about the new edition? Check out the following resources:
• A handy resource that shows you what’s been added and updated in the new edition
• A book excerpt that includes the full table of contents
• A slide deck that provides a comprehensive overview of the new edition
Click here for more information and to purchase this book: Fundamentals of Literacy Instruction & Assessment, PreK-6, Second Edition
Fundamentals of Literacy Instruction and Assessment, Grades 6-12
by Martha C. Hougen, Ph. D.
Prepare educators to strengthen the literacy skills of students in Grades 6–12 with this adolescent literacy textbook, based on current research, standards, and recommended instructional practices. This expertly organized volume covers all the fundamentals of how reading and writing skills develop in older students and how to teach literacy within key academic content areas: language arts, math, science, and history. This text includes classroom examples, helpful objectives and summaries, and sample lesson plans.
For more information and to purchase this book: Brookes Publishing
Explicit Instruction: Effective and Efficient Teaching
by Anita L. Archer and Charles A. Hughes
This book lays the foundation for what is explicit instruction, why it is important, for whom it is essential, and how to provide it. This is ideal for PreK-6th grade educators.
Click here for more information and to purchase this book
Effective Instruction for Middle School Students with Reading Difficulties
by Carolyn Denton, Ph.D., Sharon Vaughn, Ph.D., Jade Wexler, Ph.D., Deanna Bryan, and Deborah Reed, Ph.D.
This book arms language arts teachers with the lessons, strategies, and foundational knowledge they need to resolve older students' reading difficulties and increase their chances for academic success. Ideal for use with struggling readers in Grades 6-8 (though these strategies would benefit older students with reading difficulties as well), this book clearly lays out the fundamentals of effective teaching for adolescents with reading difficulties.
Click here for more information and to purchase this book
Overcoming Dyslexia
by Sally Shaywitz, M.D. and Jonathan Shaywitz, M.D.
One in five American children has trouble reading. But they are not stupid or lazy. In Overcoming Dyslexia, Dr. Sally Shaywitz, codirector of the Yale Center for the Study of Learning and Attention and a leader in the new research into how the brain works, offers the latest information about reading problems and proven, practical techniques that, along with hard work and the right help, can enable anyone to overcome them. This book gives the tools that parents and teachers need to help the dyslexic child, age by age, grade by grade, step by step.
For more information and to purchase this book: Penguin Random House
The Reading Comprehension Blueprint: Helping Students Make Meaning from Text
by Nancy Lewis Hennessy (foreword by Louisa Cook Moats)
Comprehension is a primary ingredient of reading success—but most educators aren't taught how to deliver structured comprehension instruction in their classrooms. Meticulously researched and masterfully organized, this book offers a clear blueprint for understanding the complexities of reading comprehension and delivering high-quality, evidence-based instruction that helps students construct meaning from challenging texts.
Resources:
Listen to any one of these audio documentaries from American Public Media's Senior Correspondent, producer and host, Emily Hanford.
Emily Hanford 2017 - 2020 Series
Emily Hanford @ehanford
1. Hard to Read: How American schools fail kids with dyslexia
Released Sept. 2017 –
There are proven ways to help people with dyslexia learn to read, and a federal law that's supposed to ensure schools provide kids with help. But across the country, public schools are denying children proper treatment and often failing to identify them with dyslexia in the first place.
2. Hard Words: Why aren’t kids being taught to read?
Released Sept. 2018 –
Scientific research has shown how children learn to read and how they should be taught. But many educators don't know the science and, in some cases, actively resist it. As a result, millions of kids are being set up to fail.
3. At a Loss for Words: How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers
Released August 2019 –
For decades, schools have taught children the strategies of struggling readers, using a theory about reading that cognitive scientists have repeatedly debunked. And many teachers and parents don't know there's anything wrong with it.
4. What the Words Say
Released August 2020 –
A false assumption about what it takes to be a skilled reader has created deep inequalities among U.S. children, putting many on a difficult path in life.
For more information, Science of Reading: The Podcast, by Amplify released an episode on their podcast series. Take a listen here.
Season 1 – Episode 3: A Conversation with Emily Hanford
Listen
Emily Hanford New Series: "Sold a Stroy: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong"
Emily Hanford @ehanford
Want to discuss Sold a Story?
This discussion guide, created by a teacher, invites educators, parents, community members and kids to have a conversation about the podcast.
All episodes can be found here: Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong Podcast
**The views and opinions expressed in any third-party resource do not necessarily reflect those of the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and do not imply an endorsement by ADE.
