Creating Literacy Instruction for All Children

by Thomas G. Gunning

Creating Literacy Instruction for All Children, Fourth Edition, is a comprehensive, practical text that provides its readers with step-by-step guidance for teaching all major aspects of reading and writing. A new, four-color design brightens the text and offers additional pedagogy. Gunning's text helps students discover approaches and techniques that fit teachers' personal styles and situations. It aims to present the major methods and strategies as fairly, completely, and clearly as possible. The text presents the theory behind the methods, so students will be free to choose, adapt, and/or construct their own approaches as they create literacy instruction. Marginal annotations highlight key concepts, provide additional information on vital issues, and list addresses of Web sites so teachers can explore sites that foster student literacy. As with previous editions, this revision endorses the viewpoint that a well-prepared classroom teacher can effectively instruct struggling readers and writers.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction

640 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1999

Reviews

[Julia S · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty much all of the advice on early reading instruction in this book is worthless. The author has a very poor understanding of what good phonics-based reading instruction entails.

Instead, I'd suggest "Why Our Children Can't Read" by Diane McGuinness, or "Early Reading Instruction" also by Diane McGuinness.

[Molly]

i found this to be an easy, informative read for a class for my masters, if at times almost too broad for its own good - it spent a single chapter on something that had been a whole course for me, so there were some sections i felt the urge to skim. but lots of great good ideas to try so a net-win overall!

[Heather R · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was more a list of ideas of things to do in a classroom. I don’t feel like I can teach reading and writing any better now after finishing the book. I am glad it’s a rental.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was informative and useful. It has a wide breadth of beginning information and is probably most useful for those studying to become teachers instead of experienced teachers. Chapter titles are: the nature of literacy; teaching all students; assessing for learning; fostering emergent/early literacy; teaching phonics, high-frequency words, and syllabic analysis; building vocabulary; comprehension: theory and strategies; comprehension: text structures and teaching procedures; reading and writing in the content areas and study skills; reading literature; approaches to teaching reading; writing and reading; creating and managing a literacy program.

This book is geared towards elementary teaching, and I felt it was especially focused on the earlier elementary grades. However, this provided a solid foundation for understanding just how we learn to read, and come to understand what reading even is. I appreciated the insights into assisting English Language Learners.

Each chapter begins with an "anticipation guide" with a set of questions to get the reader thinking. There are helping "FYI" sections that highlight main points and tips. Key vocabulary words are bolded within the text and re-emphasized in their own boxes. There are lists, steps, and examples. I felt the text was too didactic and detailed at times, but perhaps I just need time to use what I learned in a hands-on way. Overall, it is a quality text.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I teach high school English and am pursuing a graduate degree to become a Reading Specialist. I'm committed to staying in the classroom, as administrative roles don't interest me. Instead, I am using the skills learned from my courses to enhance my teaching, and my reviews of these coursework texts will assess their effectiveness in that goal. I found this book to be an invaluable guide that deepened my knowledge and provided practical strategies for supporting diverse learners in the classroom. Gunning covers various topics, from foundational concepts in literacy development to evidence-based strategies for teaching reading and writing across different grade levels and content areas. Each chapter has research-based insights and practical examples, making complex concepts accessible and applicable to real-world classroom settings. I am confident that the insights and strategies I have gained from this book will make me a more effective and impactful teacher. My only criticism is that it leans heavily on younger grades.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book for learning about how to teach comprehension to students. The book focuses extensively on strategies and does it in a way that is very relevant and implementable for urban classrooms. I didn't read the whole thing -- probably about half the chapters -- but I will definitely keep it and refer to it in the future because it is an excellent resource.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good resource for an overview of literacy and instruction methods. I recommend this text to first-year and aspiring teachers.

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Used in my Intermediate Language Arts Methods course at the University Center. Disappointed - had more about beginning reading than intermediate!

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this book for a class I am taking. It was very information and had a lot of great ideas.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only text book I actually enjoyed reading. Professors take note!!