Reading Essentials: The Specifics You Need to Teach Reading Well [Paperback]

Regie Routman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0325004927 | ISBN-13: 978-0325004921 | Publication Date: October 4, 2002

With all the controversy and confusion over "best practice" issues in teaching reading, someone with the necessary experience, the ability to take the long view, and most of all a level head is essential to set things straight. This is where Regie Routman steps in: giving clarity, support, specific demonstrations, and confidence to teachers so they can teach reading in a manner that is consistent with research and learning theory and respectful of students' needs, interests, and abilities. In Reading Essentials, she realistically describes how to achieve these goals-and get high test scores too.

Based on her continuing work teaching in schools, Routman proves that good teaching doesn't have to mean lots of hours spent planning. What's necessary is good thinking-thinking about what matters to kids, what kids need to know, how we can move them forward, and how to ensure that they comprehend and enjoy what they read-including struggling students. Readers will discover research-based strategies, immediately doable ideas, and detailed lessons-all based on an instructional framework that includes:

• demonstrations
• shared demonstrations
• guided practice
• independent practice.

Thoughout the text, Routman emphasizes the use of professional common sense and demonstrates how to maximize your time, making the most of every teachable moment. Practical, philosophical, and political, Reading Essentials gets to the heart of what excellent reading instruction is all about-and puts the fun back into your teaching.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Regie Routman's intimate knowledge of teaching and learning, down-to-earth style, and dedication to children's success have made her one of the most vibrant and respected names in literacy education. Her books, Teaching Essentials; Writing Essentials; Reading Essentials; Conversations; Literacy at the Crossroads; Invitations; The Blue Pages; and Transitions, all published by Heinemann, have encouraged hundreds of thousands of teachers to take charge of their professional learning and create efficient, joyful practices. Currently she is dedicating herself to a new, dynamic framework to support teachers' professional development. The DVD-based Regie Routman in Residence supports in-depth, yearlong literacy staff development that replicates the demonstration teaching she conducts in weeklong residencies and brings to life the practices she advocates in Teaching Essentials. Regie continues to inform and inspire teachers as a language arts coach in schools across the country, as a speaker at national conferences, and as a presenter of one-day workshops through Heinemann Professional Development.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann (October 4, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0325004927
• ISBN-13: 978-0325004921
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,143 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Regie Routman's intimate knowledge of teaching and learning, down-to-earth style, and dedication to children's success have made her one of the most vibrant and respected names in literacy education. Her books, Teaching Essentials; Writing Essentials; Reading Essentials; Conversations; Literacy at the Crossroads; Invitations; The Blue Pages; and Transitions, all published by Heinemann, have encouraged hundreds of thousands of teachers to take charge of their professional learning and create efficient, joyful practices. Currently she is dedicating herself to a new, dynamic framework to support teachers' professional development. The DVD-based Regie Routman in Residence supports in-depth, yearlong literacy staff development that replicates the demonstration teaching she conducts in weeklong residencies and brings to life the practices she advocates in Teaching Essentials. Regie continues to inform and inspire teachers as a language arts coach in schools across the country, as a speaker at national conferences, and as a presenter of one-day workshops through Heinemann Professional Development.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not for the faint of heart!, October 20, 2004

By 

Mary Ann Bryne "Kitty Teacher" (Nebraska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reading Essentials: The Specifics You Need to Teach Reading Well (Paperback)

Read this book only if you have the courage to look at your teaching and say, "I can do better." I can do better and I am! This book liberated me! She doesn't tell you to throw out everything you know and embrace the newest methods, step by step. She tells you to study the literature and adapt it to your classroom! How much better can that be! I teach resource and right now, my kids are on fire. They have actually turned down a classroom reward party to stay in my room and read! I told them I didn't want them to miss the party. They looked at each other and asked, "Do we have to go?" I said they didn't and they dove into the books. Every few pages has a teaching tip to help you as you implement the strategies and ideas in the book. You have GOT to read this book and make some changes. Grow as a professional and it will change your life and the lives of your students.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book club material, November 11, 2006

By 

Annette H. Clary - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Reading Essentials: The Specifics You Need to Teach Reading Well (Paperback)

I teach 5th grade, and the teachers on our grade level enjoy being involved in a book club. This year, we've selected Reading Essentials as our book of discussion. The book is easy to read and full of ideas to make reading effective in your classroom. If we only had enough time to implement the many wonderful ideas, we'd be in great shape.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Member Of the Literacy "Best" List..., April 23, 2006

By 

Reginald Williams (Orangeburg, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reading Essentials: The Specifics You Need to Teach Reading Well (Paperback)

...along with Frank Smith (READING WITHOUT NONESENSE), Brian Cambourne (READ AND RETELL), Ralph Fletcher (A WRITER'S NOTEBOOK), and James Gee (SOCIAL LINGUISTICS AND LITERACIES).

This one represents the most "classroom friendly" of the bunch which might (in some eyes) put it a slight step ahead of the other heavyweights mentioned above.

Each subheading alone gives a lesson about how to teach reading/literacy in a classroom (especially an early childhood one). Punctuated by pictures within short chapters, Routman allows the reader to absorb each chapter as a separate entity (similarly to James Gee's and Sonia Nieto's books).

I would highly recommend this book for early childhood literacy experts (and everybody else) because it offers many guidelines (especially Chapter 8) on how best to instill the basic skeleton for emergent literacy.

Bravo, Regie.