What Research Has to Say About Reading Instruction, Fourth Edition

Samuels, S. Jay, and Alan E. Farstrup. What Research has to say About Reading Instruction. 4th ed. Newark: International Reading Association, 2011

If I'm being honest I would have to say two things: 1) I didn't enjoy this book as much as all of the children's literature I've been indulging in, and 2) Out of all the textbooks I read this semester, (which was quite a lot) this would be my 2nd favorite. It is one I plan to keep on my shelf for the long haul.

I read this book cover-to-cover. I don't necessarily know that I would recommend that for everyone. This read is compiled of 18 chapters, all written by different researchers. This book contains some nuggets of research information presented in an understandable and interesting light. If you are looking for information on any of the following topics I would seek out this compilation as a good place to start:

• Critical Importance of Teacher Quality

• The Relation Between Alphabetic Basics, Word Recognition, and Reading

• Eye Movements and Reading: What Teachers Need to Know [very fascinating!]

• Essential Elements of Fostering and Teaching Reading Comprehension

• Reading Fluency: What It Is and What It Is Not

• Reading Engagement Among African American and European American Students [very eye-opening!]

• The Importance of Independent Reading

• Integrating Reading Strategies and Knowledge Building in Adolescent Literacy Instruction

• Developmental Changes in Reading Comprehension: Implications for Assessment and Instruction

• Are Current Reading Research Findings Applicable to Students with Intellectual Disabilities? 

• Research on Reading/Learning Disability Interventions

• Implementing a Response to Intervention Model to Improve Reading Outcomes for All Students

• Technologies, Digital Media, and Reading Instruction

• Teaching Reading in English as a Foreign Language to Young Learners: A Global Reflection

• What the Research Says About Intentional Instruction

• Using Assessment to Improve Teaching and Learning [could this topic be any more current?!]

• Parents and Reading: What Teachers Should Know About Ways to Support Productive Home-School Environments [my favorite!]

• Diversity and Literacy [again with the current thing...]

• How Reading Research and Federal Policy on Reading Instruction Have Interrelated Over the Past 35 Years

Captain Awesome Takes a Dive

By: Stan Kirby

Being that I just raved about these books, for the third time, in my last post, I will save you from reading all the same rigmarole for the fourth time. You know I like these books. You know why I like these books. You know my kids LOVE these books. Nuff said.

Book number 4 takes place over summer vacation. Eugene and Charlie (AKA Captain Awesome and Nacho Cheese Man) get into plenty of trouble and commit many harrowing rescues while taking swim lessons at the local swimming pool. Unfortunately for them, they are unable to escape many of their unfavorite people from school. Another book well worth reading!

Captain Awesome and the New Kid

By: Stan Kirby

And the Captain Awesome saga continues...I think it stills holds true, in my mind at least, that the first one of the series is the best. That being said, all the others I've read have definitely been worth reading.

I love using these books to work on reciprocal teaching (predicting, questioning, clarifying, summarizing) with my kids. I think, in part, it works so well because they follow the story line so closely. They still BEG for these books to be read every day. 

My favorite thing about reading these books to my class are the **GASP** opportunities. A teacher loves nothing more than stopping in the middle of the chapter, closing the book, and saying, "We will read more tomorrow," when they know it will provoke that **GASP** from their students quickly followed by a plead to read just one more page! (I do this to my kids every day...if they only knew that their reaction was what eggs me on :) 

In this book a new kid, Sally, moves onto Captain Awesome's block. Of course, due to the fact that she's new AND a girl, Captain Awesome and Nacho Cheese Man have no other option but to expect the worst of her. The whole book is one big adventure trying to get to the bottom of Sally's real identity.

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

By: Eric Litwin

I have more than one Pete the Cat book in my classroom, but this is the first one I ever read so I decided to add it to my blog. These books are great! They are funny, the pictures are very colorful, and they make for great educational tools. Pete the Cat can help teach counting, keeping a good attitude, and most certainly prediction. There is a repetitious portion of the story in every book and children soon catch on and are able to easily predict what might come next. Also, these books are very easy reads so emergent readers, between sounding things out, sight words, and the repetition of the story, may quickly feel confident enough to tackle these books on their own.

King Pig

By: Nick Bland

Need a new spin on the golden rule? Then, this is the perfect book to add to your library! King Pig feels sad because he doesn't have any friends. He thinks he treats all his servants (sheep) splendidly and he just can't understand why no one likes him. He decides something has got to change so he tries to win the sheep over using several different tactics. Alas, to no avail! Eventually, there is only one thing left for King Pig to do: ask the sheep why they dislike him so. The sheep are brave and give an honest answer only for King Pig to be astonished. After much reflection King Pig is able to admit to his wrongs and makes haste to correct his erroneous ways. 

This adorable book does a great job teaching a lesson of kindness in a way that young minds can understand. If you have an anti-bullying policy at your school (or in your home) this book would be a great ice breaker for talking about that.

Chrysanthemum

By: Kevin Henkes

I can't seem to recall which children's show it was, but I first heard this book read on some PBS show. Reading Rainbow, perhaps? All I know is that when I saw it in the last Scholastic order I placed I knew I had to have it. It is one of those books that just instantly takes me back to a time and place when life was uncomplicated and care-free. I don't know that I love the story so much as I do the feeling and emotions that are tied to reading this book for me. Even so, it is a really fun read with vivid pictures and a lesson to be learned. 

Chrysanthemum thinks she has the loveliest name ever. That is until she goes to her first day of school and all the kids in her class tell her otherwise. She finds it hard to make friends and begins to feel down on herself. Then, a special someone comes along and makes all the difference in the world. Chrysanthemum goes back to thinking she is something special and her classmates soon begin to realize the same.

The 3 Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf

By: Mark Teague

I've started a collection of all the 3 little pigs books I can find. I think this one makes #5 in my classroom. It is great to have multiple twists on the same story when you teach little ones. There are so many mini lessons to be had! Comparing and contrasting characters, setting, plot, finding the climax, beginning, middle, ending, categorizing, and on and on the list goes. 

It is a toss up as to whether this is my favorite version or if The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Alexander T. Wolf is my favorite. They are both very cleverly written. I must say that this variation does have the best ending. I'd highly recommend adding it to your collection, even if you aren't aiming to create a 3 little pigs collection like me.