Customer Reviews

Comprehension Instruction, Second Edition: Research-Based Best Practices (Solving Problems in the Teaching of Literacy)

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I found this textbook extremely useful for someone who wants to upgrade knowledge on literacy and reading comprehension issues. All the articles are discussions on the most recent research in each area related to reading comprehension. The book is divided in five parts: new theoretical direction (note the dual coding theory if you care about building vocabulary and improving comprehension with visuals), the influence of neuroscience in comprehension instruction and research, , ways of improving comprehension, differentiated comprehension, and the use of technology in this area. I highly recopmmend this book for anyone who wants to be up to date in research on comprehension instruction.

This book was so convoluted that I can't believe that it was even published. You could only understand part of what was written. The book does not given you enough information on how to actually teach comprehension. Most of the information is just data on top of data. If the writers would have taken the time to show how these new strategies work in the classroom, I am sure comprehension would have taken place.

I have been reading many books on writing and on teaching this summer. Professional writers tell us to keep our writing more simple, less wordy, less jargon-filled, fewer acronyms, and to use voice. It is not necessary to flaunt our professional status in writing that is difficult to comprehend. If the authors of this textbook had written more like they speak when presenting the information in graduate class, it may have made this book more accessible to those of us who seldom read textbooks. Is it possible to present this heavy, research-driven information in a more engaging way? I'm not sure if it is--but it is something to consider. Now I remember why I avoid textbooks whenever possible.