Making Sense of Phonics: The Hows and Whys (Solving Problems in the Teaching of Literacy) [Hardcover]

Isabel L. Beck PhD (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 29, 2005 | ISBN-10: 1593852681 | ISBN-13: 978-1593852689 | Edition: 1

From bestselling author Isabel L. Beck--an experienced educator who knows what works--this concise volume provides a wealth of practical ideas for building children's decoding skills by teaching letter-sound relationships, blending, word building, and multisyllable words. Straightforward and accessible, the strategies presented for explicit, systematic phonics instruction are ideal for use in primary-grade classrooms or with older students who are having difficulties. Many specific examples bring the instructional procedures to life while elucidating their underlying rationale; appendices include reproducible curriculum materials.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In this book, Isabel Beck brings the subject of phonics to life in a sensitive, clear presentation, which itself serves as a lesson in how to teach. Elementary teachers who use this book will enjoy reading and teaching from it, and their students are sure to benefit from the author's precise, thoughtful approach."--Sharon Vaughn, PhD, Department of Special Education, University of Texas at Austin

"Who would expect a book on phonics to be one you don’t want to put down? This is the book I’ve been waiting for--a straightforward, easy-to-follow, sensible guide to teaching phonics. I can imagine tutors and preservice and inservice teachers using this book both for its step-by-step instructional sequences and the accessible explanations of why they are done. I can imagine this so well, in fact, that I plan to use the book in my tutoring and preservice teacher education courses."--Connie Juel, PhD, School of Education, Stanford University

"Making Sense of Phonics chronicles the personal journey of a reading teacher learning her craft. All those who join Isabel Beck on this journey will benefit not only from her insight as a teacher, but also from her work as a leading researcher. Readers will learn powerful yet simple instructional strategies that are grounded in research. Few educators are as comfortable in both teacher and researcher roles as Dr. Beck. This book is a 'must' for teachers just starting out, as well as veteran teachers who are faced with struggling readers."--Marcy Stein, PhD, Education Program, University of Washington, Tacoma

"In a clear and conversational style, Isabel Beck has created a powerful text to support explicit and systematic phonics instruction. Making Sense of Phonics outlines procedures for such essential beginning reading activities as teaching letter-sound correspondences, blending, and word building. Inservice and preservice teachers will appreciate the book’s focus on classroom practice, and how the author applies every concept to real students. Teachers of English learners will find that the step-by-step teaching strategies provide an explicitness that helps students master important reading skills in their new language."--Lori Helman, PhD, University of Minnesota

"A timely, much-needed book for teachers. Isabel Beck helps sort through the issues related to phonics instruction and outlines a practical, explicit, systematic approach. Written as if you are having a conversation with the author, this straightforward book provides concise strategies for sequencing phonics instruction as well as anecdotes that further enlighten the reader. Readers are given many opportunities to reflect on their own students, analyze student responses, and determine an appropriate course of action. This makes for an excellent text for any reading methods course that emphasizes a balanced literacy approach. Based on research, this book provides needed tools for helping all students become independent, lifelong readers."--Donna Savage, EdS, Literacy Specialist, Newport News Public Schools, Virginia

About the Author

Isabel L. Beck, PhD, is Professor Emerita of Education in the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh. She has conducted research and published widely in the areas of decoding, vocabulary, and comprehension. Her contributions have been acknowledged by awards from the International Reading Association, the National Reading Conference, and the American Federation of Teachers, and she is an elected member of the National Academy of Education.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 134 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; 1 edition (November 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593852681
• ISBN-13: 978-1593852689
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,913,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Isabel L. Beck, PhD, is Professor Emerita of Education in the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh. She has conducted research and published widely in the areas of decoding, vocabulary, and comprehension. Her contributions have been acknowledged by awards from the International Reading Association, the National Reading Conference, and the American Federation of Teachers, and she is an elected member of the National Academy of Education.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Need help with your struggling reader?, March 17, 2006

By 

J. Whitaker - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Making Sense of Phonics: The Hows and Whys (Solving Problems in the Teaching of Literacy) (Paperback)

I have ten years of teaching experience, from pre-school to third grade. It has been easy teaching about 80% of my students to read, over the years. They respond well to my small guided reading groups, carefully planned literacy centers, and limited but focused phonics instruction.

But the other 10 percent%? Well, they have needed something different, and this book, "Making Sense of Phonics," is it. Isabel Beck strikes a perfect balance in this book between theory, research, and application. I read the book over a weekend after attending a seminar about how brain imaging and neuroscience is helping to make sense of the process to learn to read. Beck's research was discussed at length and quite convincing, and so I bought the book, read it, and began teaching lessons using her protocol to the 6 lowest readers in my class.

Results? After just three weeks I already note marked improvement in these students' ability to sound out words, blend sounds, and make the connection between the letters on the page and the sound they produce with their mouth. It's fast paced and simple to do, once you've taught just a few lessons. If they continue at this rate, I will be completely sold on it and plan to present to the primary teachers at my school in hopes of convincing others to use it, as needed.

I think that a parent could just as easily do this with their child as well; in fact, it could be even better because the child would receive that one on one attention. It does seem pretty important to stick to Beck's suggestions regarding how to emphasize letter sound correspondance to all parts of the word as opposed to just initial placement.

Bottom line, if your student or child is a struggling reader and you've tried lots of things and are going nuts because they know a word on one page and forget in on the next or they just look at the first letter and then make a guess, then this is the teaching strategy for you!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful Ideas, March 11, 2007

By 

K. Hegna - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Making Sense of Phonics: The Hows and Whys (Solving Problems in the Teaching of Literacy) (Paperback)

In this book, Beck outlines procedures for essential beginning reading activities such as letter-sound correspondences, blending, and word building. I really liked how this book focused on classroom practice, and how the author applies every concept to real students. Beck also supplies appendixes to supply the materials needed to make your own centers that were used in the classroom practice examples.

I really liked the idea for word pockets, where students place the letter where they heard the sound(beginning, middle, or end.) Also, now each one of my students now has their own set of alphabet cards. When we have free time, they are busy putting letters together to make a word.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great phonics..., May 31, 2011

By 

pvogt1r1 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Making Sense of Phonics: The Hows and Whys (Solving Problems in the Teaching of Literacy) (Paperback)

Beck is the best at this. A super book, perfect if you want to teach anyone how to read.