The 3 Habits of Highly Successful Reading Teachers: A Quick and Easy Approach to Helping All Students Succeed
Description
Contains Index
$24.95
ISBN 978-1-55138-239-5
DDC 372.4
Author
Publisher
Year
Contributor
Myra Junyk is the former program co-ordinator of Language Arts and Library Services at the Toronto Catholic School Board. She is currently a literacy advocate and author.
Review
Megan Milani, a former Reading Recovery teacher and currently an elementary school principal, has based The 3 Habits of Highly Successful Reading Teachers on her LIFE (Literacy Is For Everyone) classroom program. She argues that reading teachers can have success with students by:
- believing in their students regardless of their current reading level
- teaching high-frequency words, letter sounds, and reading strategies which will build their confidence and their ability to read, and
- assessing students on a regular basis to observe and record progress, plan next steps and reflect on what students still need to learn.
This concise teaching tool which is particularly aimed at instruction in the primary grades is divided into five chapters. The first three chapters explain the three habits outlined by Milani. Each chapter explains Milani’s rationale for including the “habit” and explains how it can be effectively practised in the classroom environment. In the second chapter, “Habit 2: The Reading Components,” the strategy of teaching high-frequency words is discussed in detail. Milani explains that familiarity with these words plays a key role in improving the reading of all students. She explains why chanting helps students retain high-frequency words and letter sounds. She also discusses small group and individual work and provides several lists of “power words” to use with students at various reading levels. In the last two chapters, Milani discusses implementation strategies and adaptations for various grade levels.
Milani’s text would be useful for new teachers who want to learn effective strategies to teach reading, as well as for experienced teachers who would like to learn about her approach to teaching high frequency words and assessment strategies. Her writing style is clear and concise. Milani does have a strong message for all educators: “The power that a teacher holds is extraordinary.”