Creating Literacy Instruction for All Students

by Thomas G. Gunning

With its careful balance between the theory and the practice, this book always gives readers the theories behind the methods, encouraging them to choose, adapt, and construct their own approaches as they create a balanced program of literacy instruction. Special emphasis has been given to adapting instruction for English language learners, struggling readers and writers and special needs students throughout the book. Unlike comparable texts, the new edition stresses effective steps for closing the gap between achieving and struggling readers as mandated by the No Child Left Behind legislation and Reading First. Reading Methods, Comprehension, Assessment, Emergent Literacy, Reading for student with special needs. Elementary Reading Methods.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction

656 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.

[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.

[Brittany Murphy-Ledger · Rating 5 out of 5]

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