Comprehension Going Forward: Where We Are and What's Next

by Ellin Oliver Keene, Susan Zimmermann, Marjorie Larner

"The real genius of this book is that it is written by teachers, for teachers. All of the authors in this book know what classrooms are like. This means that authenticity and integrity pervade every chapter in the book. Teachers will immediately sense this authenticity on their way to realizing that the book offers an endless supply of useful suggestions."
-From the Coda by P. David Pearson For those of us who teach comprehension strategies, Comprehension Going Forward is as near to the ultimate PD experience as we can get. Imagine a professional learning community where you could sit in as... In Comprehension Going Forward, you'll meet up with 17 leading practitioners and researchers for an energetic, personal, and frequently irreverent conversation on what great comprehension instruction looks like, what an amazing range of applications it has for all students, and what we can do better. Not only do figures such as Susan Zimmerman and P. David Pearson include their own chapters, but, like any exciting conversation, they point out their favorite parts of one another's chapters-highlighting discussion topics for teacher study groups along the way.

Read Comprehension Going Forward and RSVP to a get-together that no one who teaches reading will want to miss. Enter this powerful, lively conversation about how we can improve all readers' comprehension today and join some of your favorite authors as they reach for a tomorrow where every child reads with deep understanding.

"Each author takes the comprehension strategies as a starting point, and then reaches out toward a different set of applications, extensions, and practices. But everyone is connected by the research base on comprehension instruction and by our common to provide every child in America with an "All-Access Pass" to literacy."
-From the editor's introduction by Harvey "Smokey" Daniels

Genres: Professional Development, Education, Nonfiction, Teaching

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 3, 2011

Reviews

[Tenille Shade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has helped me consider ways to take my reading instruction to the next level. The pages are covered in text graffiti, and I can't wait to have professional conversations with my colleagues. This is a must read for all educators!

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

As you might expect of any book written by many authors, uneven. I found the earlier chapters stronger and the later ones less so. What I liked was how the criticism of reading strategies forced this camp (and it IS a camp) to defend their practice. Keeps them sharp. And although the book DID have SOME practical ideas, it's still more hypothetical than anything else. Still, the metacognition stuff makes sense. It's just difficult because it has to be PART of your repertoire and not the reportoire itself. You should think that way as you read it, or perhaps read Pearson's coda at the end first.

[Lou Broughton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some chapters were better than others. Three chapters stand out to me as ones I will return to again & again and I will recommend that my colleagues read if they don't plan to read the entire book. Those chapters are written by Stephanie Harvey, Leslie Blauman, & Tanny McGregor. Some wonderful ideas and considerations are numerous throughout the book, but these 3 chapters left me wanting to read more from these three authors.

[Sheila Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each chapter has a different author! My favorite chapter was the one by Tanny MacGregor...She explains how students should a six word synthesis of their day. I did this with my class and they loved it! She also suggested reading a random fact of the day and the kids loved that as well. They didn't want to be out of school until we finished all the random facts LOL!

[Heather Wall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! One of the best books on comprehension I've read recently. Edited by Smokey Daniels and written by so many of the big names in the field, it tackles the surface-level treatment comprehension strategies has received as they've risen in popularity. A must-read for anyone wanting to improve their reading instruction.

[Sucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm on p. 71 so far and I'm loving the inspiration, the permission to let kids have a go sooner than later, and the wise words from the authors who guided me to love teaching kids how to think strategically!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me so many creative ideas to liven up reading groups. The professional development webinar series the authors presented was also amazing. With so many tips and strategies finding the time to put them in has been challenging but the kids have absolutely loved them!

[Jilane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of this book, I felt, was frustrating because it applied to lower grades (1-4) There were two chapters that talked about upper grades (junior high/high school). Lots of ideas but I will really have to work with them to make them fit into my curriculum.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic resource for all K-12 educators. I recommend that you read Masaic of Thought first though.

[Brenda Holoubek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by the best in reading comprehension. Always good to read more on Comprehension Strategies and what we need to teach our students to move forward.

[Sarah]

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