Comprehensive Literacy for All: Teaching Students with Significant Disabilities to Read and Write

by Karen Erickson, David Koppenhaver

Literacy improves lives--and with the right instruction and supports, all students can learn to read and write.That's the core belief behind this teacher-friendly handbook, your practical guide to providing comprehensive, high-quality literacy instruction to students with significant disabilities. Drawing on decades of classroom experience, the authors present their own innovative model for teaching students with a wide range of significant disabilities to read and write print in grades preK-12 and beyond. Foundational teaching principles blend with concrete strategies, step-by-step guidance, and specific activities, making this book a complete blueprint for helping students acquire critical literacy skills they'll use inside and outside the classroom.

An essential resource for educators, speech-language pathologist, and parents--and an ideal text for courses that cover literacy and significant disabilities--this book will help you ensure that all students have the reading and writing skills they need to unlock new opportunities and reach their potential.

READERS

PRACTICAL Sample teaching scenarios and dialogues, how-to strategies, and downloadable resources, including sample lessons, a quick-guide to key literacy terms, lesson sequences, and flowcharts to guide instruction.

Genres: Education, Disability, Nonfiction, Professional Development

264 pages, Paperback

Published December 17, 2019

About the author

Karen Erickson that writes Romance/Erotica can be found here: Karen Erickson

Reviews

[Heidi]

This book was a helpful starting point for bridging my experience of teaching kids to read in a general education setting to working now with kids needing more supports. It provides a framework for determining where kids are at and what to focus on based on their current skill set to make sure they’re getting a comprehensive literacy education.

While it is an incredible starting point, it left me with many unanswered questions about the path forward with the student for whom I bought this book. I felt like this book was written under the assumption that your students comprehend at least some spoken language. I’m still perplexed as to helping my non-speaking student with receptive language deficits progress in their emerging literacy skills. I want to figure out how to help my student progress as much as possible through their emergent literacy skills without letting receptive language deficits hold them back. I believe helping this student learn to read would be an incredible asset to them as they do not understand the majority of spoken language yet, but do well with visual cues such as symbols on their speech-generating device or hand gestures. The ability to comprehend written text would make their world so much less confusing and frustrating. I’d love more resources on helping students with receptive language deficits progress through a comprehensive literacy program and was hopeful it would be included in this book, but it was not.

Overall though, this book is an incredible resource with information on how to accommodate a wide variety of students’ literacy needs.

[Paigewest · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MUST-read for all teachers of students with significant disabilities. Packed with comprehensive ideas and practical tips.

[Emily Carrig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every special education teacher should read this book! I learned so much about teaching kids to read from it.

[Elaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such an important book for teachers of students with significant disabilities. It's main theme is that all students can learn to read and write with the right amount of instruction. They provide evidence-based practices that teachers can implement in their classrooms to increase literacy for all students. I also loved the vignettes that the authors provided. Overall, great read on such a needed concept.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that will instantly impact your teaching practice and change the way you look at literacy.
Having just completed a book study on this text, I can not say enough about it. Erikson and Koppenhaver not only explain the science behind literacy for all students in an accessible and relevant way, but they have also packed each chapter with strategies and examples.

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a definite must read for anyone who works with students who have significant disabilities. It is written in a way that is easy to understand and provides evidence to support recommendations. Sadly it also made me realize how big the gap is between best practice and what is actually occurring in schools with these students a majority of the time.

[Lorna Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every educator should read this book! Presume competence and remember the least dangerous assumption while reading it. Work with students with significant disabilities or not, you will learn strategies to support literacy.

I have read this book numerous times and still find new ways to support learners.

[Neena Malosky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book! I have learned so so much! I know I will refer to it often.

[Alison Rockrohr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book! It is a MUST read for anyone caring for people who have significant disabilities in any way! Such an amazing book. It has helped my students and I so much!

[Hanigan Racelis · Rating 4 out of 5]

An essential resource for educators, speech-language pathologists, and parents—and an ideal text for courses that cover literacy and significant disabilities.

CKSD Book study Feb 2022