The Reading Instruction Show

The steps of the action research process are described below. Note that it is a recursive process that does not always proceed in a linear fashion (Johnson, 2012; Patterson & Shannon, 1993). Thus, some of these steps may need to be repeated several times, or they may have to be done in a different order. 1. Ask a question, identify a problem, or select a research topic. 2. Set the problem or resea...

The following seven descriptors provide insight as to the nature of action research. 1. Action research is systematic 2. You do not start with an answer. 3. Action research projects vary in length . 4. The study must be adequately planned before beginning to collect data 5. Observations should be regular, but they do not necessarily have to be long. 6. Action research is grounded in theory. 7. Act...

Teachers are the most significant variable in determining the quality of education students receive and the amount of learning that occurs. Yet, when it comes to discussions about how to enhance learning or improve the quality of education, this most significant variable is often ignored. To make this variable even more significant, there must be continued investment in teacher professional develo...

A method in education usually refers to a defined process or specific set of techniques that are used exclusively in a prescribed fashion for instruction in a particular subject area. In contrast, a pedagogical strategy is a specific teaching technique that is used selectively in a variety of subject areas for a specific purpose. Direct instruction is one such pedagogical strategy. It should not b...

This podcast describes strategies for attending to sight words in a meaning-based approach to reading. It ends with an examination of scope and sequence charts.

There are eight terms related to reading instruction that are commonly misunderstood: (1) reading, (2) word recognition, (3) word identification, (4) decoding, (5) a strategy, (6) a skill, (7) systematic phonics instruction, and (8) a balanced approach. This podcast is to bring clarity to these commonly misunderstood terms.

Phonics is the ability to associate sounds with letters or letter patterns. Phonics is one of four ways used to identify individual words as we read. The other three are: (a) analogy [word families], (b) morphemic awareness [prefix, suffix, affix, root], and (c) context clues [semantics]. Phonics instruction is very important, but it should never be taught as the sole component in a reading progra...

In viewing online discussion groups and reading various articles related to reading instruction and struggling readers, it is clear that many believe that ‘ whole language ’ is a bad thing. All well and good, but one should understand exactly what whole language is before rejecting it.

After wide reading, writing is probably the next best thing you can use to help struggling readers. You can often hear beginning and emergent readers sounding out words as they listen to find the correct letter-sounds. This helps in the development of the phonetic cuing system. Writing also invites students to focus on word order, grammar, and the logical structure of the language. In this way it...

Standardized tests are effective for describing how far students are from a mythical average. They are very ineffective in diagnosing the cause of reading difficulties. This podcast explains.

The teacher is the most significant variable in determining how much learning takes place in any classroom. We must attend to this most significant variable. This occurs through professional develop that focuses on four kinds of knowledge: content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, and knowledge of learners and learning.

This podcast explains and describes social cognitive learning theory and its applications. Social cognitive learning theory involves observing the behaviors of others and the resulting rewards and punishments. Future behaviors were then based on these observations. From the perspective of social cognitive learning theory , learning is a change in mental processes that creates the capacity to demon...

This podcast describes efferent and aesthetic responses to text. It explains how we should approach and respond to expository (informational) and narrative text. It also explains why some of the Common Core State Standards related to literature are absurd, silly, and ridiculous,

This podcast describes how our brain creates meaning with text from a cognitive perspective. The information processing model, sometimes called the standard memory model, is used here. It depicts the process our brain uses to take in information as well as how we analyze, organize, store, and retrieve information. It also accounts for the two-way flow of information that occurs during the reading...

Psychologists Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow are generally thought to be the founders of modern humanistic learning theory (DeCarvalho, 1991). Humanistic learning theory is not as easily defined as some learning theories. Indeed, there are differing views on what humanistic learning theory is or might be. And like other learning theories described in this book, they share common elements. However,...

In this podcast I describe 11 attributes of what I believe to be teacher professionalism. They are based on the perspective I hold as a holistic educator. You will need to identify and define your own set of attributes

Affect in education usually refer to emotions and motivation. Since these do not show up on test scores, to the educational bureaucracy, they do not exist; however, they are, arguably, the most important components in teaching and learning, especially if you are a student with a special learning need. In this podcast we examine emotion, motivation, and learning to read, with a special focus on ado...

Psychometricians, educational psychologists, and the companies that publish standardized have convinced people that learning can be quantified and that the numbers generated on these standardized tests mean much more than they do. They promote the false idea that larger numbers mean more learning and more effective teaching, and lower numbers mean less learning and less effective teaching. Student...

Educational research is used to create the theories upon we design educational policies and practices are designed. Theories help to organize relevant empirical facts (empirical means they can be observed or measured), in order to create a context for understanding phenomena. Put another way, a theory is a way to explain a set of facts. If reality were a dot-to-dot picture, a theory would be a way...

Some of the ideas about reading instruction that I have presented in various formats may be at odds with your previous ways of thinking about things. In fact, some of these ideas may directly conflict with what you believe to be true regarding how children learn to read and how you should teach them to read. This is good. Dissonance or disequilibrium is an important part of learning. I would invit...

We want reading instruction for all students to be based on “scientifically based research”. In RTI students are identified for special education services based on how they respond to interventions that are supported by scientifically based research. As well, at our Universities, we are required to make sure preservice teachers receive instruction in reading methods that are supported by scientifi...

Federal guidelines related to IEPs for reading state that special education services (instruction and interventions), should be based on “ peer-reviewed research .” This podcast explores the mystery of peer-reviewed research and the National Reading Panel. There are four things to take from this podcast related to peer-reviewed research and reading instruction: (1) It is not a perfect process, but...

If the only tool you have is a hammer all the world becomes a nail. If the only tool you have to teach reading is phonics all the world becomes a phonics worksheet. This podcast describes (a) problems with phonics-only reading programs, (b) three tips for developing phonetic cueing systems, (c) systematic phonics instruction and (d) three approaches to phonics instruction

The purpose of a shared reading lesson is to enable the whole class to share insights or have a common discussion around a book or text. Here students of varying ability levels interact with concepts, vocabulary, and ideas in authentic contexts in creative and engaging ways. And while shared reading is designed around a common text; it is not, nor should it ever become a venue for round robin read...

There is both a science and an art to creating effective writing prompts for post-reading activities.