Blogs About Reading

Shanahan on Literacy

Timothy Shanahan

Literacy expert Timothy Shanahan shares best practices for teaching reading and writing. Dr. Shanahan is an internationally recognized professor of urban education and reading researcher who has extensive experience with children in inner-city schools and children with special needs. All posts are reprinted with permission from Shanahan on Literacy.

Here’s Why I Wouldn't Teach Less Reading to Improve Social Studies

September 28, 2020

This week, the Thomas Fordham Institute released a new provocative report, Social Studies Instruction and Reading Comprehension. It says U.S.

What About Personalized Learning in Reading?

September 24, 2020

Teacher question: I would love to know what you think about the movement in personalized learning in K-8 schools. A few schools in my district have been moving to this approach for math instruction and I'd be interested in hearing your ideas of how this would look in reading and writing instruction. Thanks! Shanahan's response:

Seatwork That Makes Sense for Reading

September 15, 2020

Teacher question: I work with students in small groups daily and need the rest of the students to be engaged in meaningful practice of their new literacy skills. What types of activities would be best for this practice? Shanahan's response:

Does a Listening Deficit Predict a Reading Deficit?

September 4, 2020

Blast from the Past: This entry was first published on November 30, 2014, and was re-issued September 4, 2020. This blog entry has new relevance with so many teachers and students engaged in distance teaching/learning.

Teaching with Complex Text: Haven't You Ever Heard of the ZPD?

August 24, 2020

Teacher question: I’ve read what you’ve written about the instructional level. You claim that there is no such thing. Haven’t you ever heard of the “zone of proximal development (ZPD)?” Shanahan's response:

Silent Reading Comprehension Is Worth Teaching – Even at a Distance

August 18, 2020

Reading instruction is a faddish thing. We reading teachers can be as passionate and fickle as a gaggle of teens cooing over Billy Eilesh or TikTok.

Pages

Find the best apps for building literacy skills.

Literacy Apps

Find the best apps for building literacy skills.

Target the Problem: Pinpoint the problem a struggling reader is having and discover ways to help.

Target the Problem

Pinpoint the problem a struggling reader is having and discover ways to help.

Ready for Kindergarten! What parents, teachers and child care providers need to know.

Ready for Kindergarten

What parents, teachers and child care providers need to know.

Our Podcasts: Watch or listen to our classroom video, author interviews and more.

Our Podcasts

Watch or listen to our classroom video, author interviews and more.

FAQs About Reading: Real questions from parents and educators, answered by experts.

FAQs About Reading

Real questions from parents and educators, answered by experts.

"A book is like a garden, carried in the pocket." — Chinese Proverb

Classroom Strategies
Research-based teaching strategies

Reading Basics
From print awareness to comprehension

Reading 101 Course
K-3 professional development course

Looking at Writing
Writing samples from real kids pre-K–3

More in Teaching Reading:

Why Some Kids Struggle
The reasons why some kids struggle with reading

Target the Problem!
Pinpoint the problem a struggling reader is having and how to help

Reading Interventions
Watch one-on-one reading support in action with K-3 students

FAQs
Questions about reading, writing, dyslexia and more

More in Struggling Readers:

Author Interviews
Meet your favorite authors and illustrators in our video interviews

Book Finder
Create your own booklists from our library of 5,000 books!

Themed Booklists
Dozens of carefully selected booklists, for kids 0-12 years old

Nonfiction for Kids
Tips on finding great books, reading nonfiction and more

More in Books & Authors: