Reading Pathways: Simple Exercises to Improve Reading Fluency (Jossey-Bass Teacher) (Paperback)

by Dolores G. Hiskes (Author)
Key Phrases: wasp wandered, multisyllable words, reading fluency, Improve Reading Fluency, Simple Exercises, Reading Pathways (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"This book is filled with reading pyramids you can use to teach accuracy and fluency. Reading pyramids begin with one word and slowly build into phrases and sentences of increasing complexity. The technique is designed to increase eye span, strengthen eye tracking, and develop fluency." (Learning Magazine, Back-to-School 2007)

Review
Praise for Reading Pathways

"With clarity, interest, humor, and precision, Dolores has offered a way out of the darkness of illiteracy. I am pleased to endorse [her] books as some of the finest instructional materials for teaching children and adults to read that I have reviewed."
—Robert W. Sweet Jr., professional staff member, Committee on Education and the Work Force, U.S. Congress, Washington, D.C.

"Our organization, Kids Read, offers tutoring to struggling or non-reading second graders in the public schools. Dolores Hiskes's materials are our most powerful tools for helping kids achieve confidence and independence in reading . . . The pyramid practice in Reading Pathways strengthens eye tracking and gives learners immediate practice with the concepts they just learned in a bigger setting. Non-readers find initial success in the presentation of short vowel words and stories. The pyramid stories provide an opportunity for multiple readings of the words and phrases, an exercise which is very empowering for emerging readers."
—Becky Faherty, director, Kids Read, Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland

"Reading Pathways led my children so gently through the pyramids that they were reading big words before they knew it! This is a 'no pain' approach to giving children the extra practice that helps to develop a strong reader."
—Sherrill Fink, homeschooling mother, Virginia

"My students love the multisyllable word pyramids and feel proud they can finally read those mysterious long words. It's so beautiful to see their self-esteem grow. This is what makes teaching rewarding. Thank you!"
—Renee Wesly, special education and regular education teacher, Maunawili Elementary School, Kailua, Hawaii

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 5 edition (January 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787992895
• ISBN-13: 978-0787992897
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #47,285 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #83 in

  Books > Reference > Words & Language > Reading Skills

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reading Pathways - Unique Approach to Fluency, January 19, 2008

By	Don (Odessa, TX) - See all my reviews

I have used Reading Pathways since its publication by Jossey-Bass, and I used its predecessor Pyramid since 2002, so I can honestly say I have considerable experience with this unique and effective method.

I have also taught her larger book, Phonics Pathways. These two books are the best materials available for helping children overcome dyslexia. They are very easy to teach and complement each other. They are self-contained and comprehensive.

Reading Pathways is so powerful that it can almost teach itself. Once I had a fourth grader who could only read on a third grade level and had failed the state reading test (TAKS) the previous year. I was very busy with some other students so I just handed him Reading Pathways, asking asked him to sit quietly and read it for himself. In less than three weeks he came to me and said, "Mr. Potter, I finished the book. It was really cool." Working alone with the book, he had advanced to independent fifth grader on my 1987 Riverside Reading Inventory! On the Miller Word Identification Assesssment for whole-word dyslexia, he reduced his phonics errors from 21 (out of 50 words) to only 5; and he could read all those words correctly when he spelled them, indicating that independent reading of the exercises had dramatically reduced his whole-dyslexia and significantly improve his fluency and comprehension. After seeing his progress, all the kids wanted to read Reading Pathways.

The exercises in the book increase eye span, develop eye tracking, and teach syllabication.

Be sure and see the sister book, Phonics Pathways: Phonics Pathways: Clear Steps to Easy Reading and Perfect Spelling

Don Potter, Odessa, TX

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reading Pathways: Simple Exercises to Improve Reading Fluency (Jossey-Bass Teacher), March 18, 2007

By	Evelyn Clemins "Homeschool Mommy" (Valley Forge, Pa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a great book for children. I purchased this book because I wanted to help my son (6 years)with his reading fluency and I must say it does work. Dolores G. Hiskes has some other books worthy of note, "Phonics Pathways" and "Reading Pyrmid". I actually recommended these books to my mother who is using it with my 10 year old nephew and she is seeing a big difference in his word pronounciation and his reading fluency (he has some speech difficulty).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reading Pathways really works - great for ESL too., June 7, 2007

By	M. M. Gong (Ferndale, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have just begun volunteer tutoring ESL. I've never done this before. Yesterday I had the first session with my student. After experimenting with a few other books, we tried Reading Pathways. My adult ESL student LOVES it! He was smiling from ear to ear as he began to see how the letters, sounds, and words came together. This is a young man who cannot write and spell even in his native language. After going through several pages, he looked up and told me, "I like this book, let's keep going."

Initially I was a bit nervous, not ever having tutored before, but armed with Reading Pathways, I am confident that we will make excellent progress in terms of reading, spelling, writing and also speaking. Thanks for this wonderful book!