Breaking the Code: The New Science of Beginning Reading and Writing

by J. Richard Gentry

If only we could understand that seemingly inexplicable moment when children suddenly "get" reading. Then our instruction could be directed toward creating those specific circumstances which help every student recognize the pattern of meaning behind the marks on a page. Now, thanks to Richard Gentry's Breaking the Code , we can. In his most important book to date, Gentry combines cutting-edge, brain-based research with sound classroom knowledge to explore early literacy development. Starting with the crucial interrelationship of reading and writing, he looks inside and out at the minds of emerging readers to find out how they construct the idea and process of reading. Then he presents a blueprint for instruction and early intervention that combines his new findings with best-practice teaching. His comprehensive instructional model focuses on building the specific skills, capacities, and experiences kids need by teaching them to write as they learn to read. Gentry gives you everything you need to implement successful beginning reading strategies as well as a variety of effective tips for supporting readers and writers throughout the primary grades. Writing with the same clarity and teacher-friendly approach as in his best-selling The Science of Spelling , Richard Gentry will show you how scientific thinking and student-centered teaching can work together to create powerful literacy instructional practices. Let Breaking the Code open a window for you into the minds of young readers, so that you can open a window for them into a world of literate possibilities.

Genres: Education

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 25, 2006

Reviews

[Jennifer Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! It gives practice ideas and research based steps in using the reading/writing connection to teach students how to grow in their reading and writing ability. I would recommend this book for anyone who teaches reading or writing.

[Amanda Kaye (More.Reading.Time.Please) · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! Where was this book when I was in college?!? This book is a MUST for any early elementary school teacher or pre-kindergarten teacher. This book simply explains how children learn to read and how interconnected reading, writing, and spelling (word work) is in the classroom. Too often teachers push aside spelling and writing each day because "they don't have time". If only they understood how this belief undermines their students' learning to read.

This book is full of teaching ideas, examples of students' work, case studies, and a deep understanding of how a child transitions from knowing nothing of reading to a full skilled reader. This book even helped me understand what a child with dyslexia actually looks like, not just the generic perceived 'letter-reversal' child from college text books of the past. One in Five children suffer from some form of dyslexia. It might be mild, but they will need extra help and practice that most teachers don't provide because they don't realize the importance of it.

This book has enriched my classroom and I think that anyone who works with kids or is trying to help struggling children needs to read this book.