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Reading with Meaning, 2nd edition: Teaching Comprehension in the Primary Grades
In the second edition of Reading with Meaning, Debbie Miller shares her new thinking about comprehension strategy instruction, the gradual release of responsibility instructional model, and planning for student engagement and independence.
It has been ten years since the first edition, in which Debbie chronicled a year in her own classroom. Reading with Meaning, Second Edition supports that work and expands her vision of strategy instruction and intentional teaching and learning. Debbie believes that every child deserves at least a full year of growth during each classroom year and offers planning documents with matching assessments to ensure that no child falls through the cracks. The second edition also provides new book recommendations that will engage and delight students, and current picture books for reading aloud and strategy instruction.
This new edition reflects Debbie's professional experiences and judgment, her work in classrooms and collaboration with colleagues, and the current research in the field, showcasing her newest, best thinking.
It has been ten years since the first edition, in which Debbie chronicled a year in her own classroom. Reading with Meaning, Second Edition supports that work and expands her vision of strategy instruction and intentional teaching and learning. Debbie believes that every child deserves at least a full year of growth during each classroom year and offers planning documents with matching assessments to ensure that no child falls through the cracks. The second edition also provides new book recommendations that will engage and delight students, and current picture books for reading aloud and strategy instruction.
This new edition reflects Debbie's professional experiences and judgment, her work in classrooms and collaboration with colleagues, and the current research in the field, showcasing her newest, best thinking.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2002
84 people are currently reading
1344 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
May 17, 2016
Funny how nothing ever goes wrong in these text books. They have perfect ideas and all of the students are so bright and try so very hard. It seems like there would be at least one student that would not want to go along with these wonderful ideas. Maybe those kids get edited out. I want to read a book about those kids.
September 11, 2010
This is my favorite professional development book. I've read it so much the pages are falling out. I love the theories and activities. They all revolve around a calm, meaningful classroom in which children are engaged in learning.
April 28, 2013
I want to be Debbie Miller when I grow up. This second edition of Reading with Meaning is so relevant to education today. While I consult my original copy constantly, it was nice to reread the book with Debbie's updated ideas on reader's workshop. I recommend to all teachers everywhere.
December 31, 2014
I enjoyed the changes in this second edition providing more insight to Debbie's unit plans. She's shared with readers big questions, possible targets and things to think about to plan more effectively. Lots of mentor text suggestions!
December 28, 2011
Amazing book that I plan to read repeatedly during my years teaching.
February 19, 2015
I love this book and writer. Dipping into this book is like talking to a trusted colleague who always shares great ideas. Feel inspired and renewed each time I read this.
December 30, 2017
I would give this book a 4.5/5.
I would suggest taking up "Reading with Meaning" as a follow-up for "The Daily 5." The books are very similar in my opinion, with "The Daily Five" delving more into the concrete details of classroom management during the reading workshop. Miller's book is a great follow-up because it addresses some of the how, but more importantly, the why of reading workshop in great detail.
In reading "Reading with Meaning", I've learned the intentionality behind teaching what I had known to be an abstract and nebulous world-- comprehension (or deeper structures) of reading. I love how Miller lays out her plans for the year and includes her learning targets and how she will know (and they will know) when the students have achieved them.
Overall, this was a must-read for me as a primary teacher. My criticism would be that the book, even the updated version, felt dated, and I wondered if Miller's structures would work in classrooms now. For example, we learn for the first time near the end of the book, on page 160, about this random person named Michelle, who helps Miller in her classroom. Is it assumed that all classrooms have an aide or co-teacher? Perhaps in the days Miller was teaching, having an aide was more common. But what about classrooms that don't have this resource?
I also wondered what kind of schools would allow this kind of teaching. In my experience teaching in the last four years, teachers are required to teach from a specific reading curriculum. In some schools, the inhibitors on teacher autonomy are stronger: scripted lessons, pacing guides etched in stone, administrators lording over lesson plans. I wonder if Miller's methodology, which is no doubt very well thought out, researched and proven in its techniques can be implemented in the modern classroom where a teacher is shackled by the micromanaging school, state and federal expectations.
The book felt like a time-traveling quest back to the '90s and early 2000s (when I was a grade school student). I felt like the only current information the author used to update the book was by saying how great the Common Core was and how it aligns with her plan.
Again, there is so much valuable information in this book that I am willing to overlook some of the dated material, and I am excited to try to use Miller's methods in my classroom!
I would suggest taking up "Reading with Meaning" as a follow-up for "The Daily 5." The books are very similar in my opinion, with "The Daily Five" delving more into the concrete details of classroom management during the reading workshop. Miller's book is a great follow-up because it addresses some of the how, but more importantly, the why of reading workshop in great detail.
In reading "Reading with Meaning", I've learned the intentionality behind teaching what I had known to be an abstract and nebulous world-- comprehension (or deeper structures) of reading. I love how Miller lays out her plans for the year and includes her learning targets and how she will know (and they will know) when the students have achieved them.
Overall, this was a must-read for me as a primary teacher. My criticism would be that the book, even the updated version, felt dated, and I wondered if Miller's structures would work in classrooms now. For example, we learn for the first time near the end of the book, on page 160, about this random person named Michelle, who helps Miller in her classroom. Is it assumed that all classrooms have an aide or co-teacher? Perhaps in the days Miller was teaching, having an aide was more common. But what about classrooms that don't have this resource?
I also wondered what kind of schools would allow this kind of teaching. In my experience teaching in the last four years, teachers are required to teach from a specific reading curriculum. In some schools, the inhibitors on teacher autonomy are stronger: scripted lessons, pacing guides etched in stone, administrators lording over lesson plans. I wonder if Miller's methodology, which is no doubt very well thought out, researched and proven in its techniques can be implemented in the modern classroom where a teacher is shackled by the micromanaging school, state and federal expectations.
The book felt like a time-traveling quest back to the '90s and early 2000s (when I was a grade school student). I felt like the only current information the author used to update the book was by saying how great the Common Core was and how it aligns with her plan.
Again, there is so much valuable information in this book that I am willing to overlook some of the dated material, and I am excited to try to use Miller's methods in my classroom!
July 24, 2011
This book SERIOUSLY rocked my world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After I read The Book Whisperer, I was inspired to throw out my basal (which my principal JUST ordered) and do my reading instruction just like she does. But I was wondering how I could do this in a primary classroom, since Donalyn Miller teaches sixth grade. So, when a teacher blog set up a read-along of the Book Whisperer, I loosely followed along, and that's where I found that Donalyn Miller would answer bloggers' questions if they submitted them. So I submitted mine, asking how I could do her same plan in first and second grades.
And she picked MY question to answer!!!!!!! OMG! She told me I should read this book, so I got right on it.
And it is amazing. This book was written by a teacher in Colorado who does a reading workshop model with her first grade class. She gave very explicit directions on how to do it in your own class, and she recommended a ton of books - many multicultural! Love that. I also loved how she included real pictures and samples of her students' work. That made me think that maybe I can do this!
So, I can't really throw out my basals, but I think I can make this work. I also just bought this at the Borders clearance yesterday!
After I read The Book Whisperer, I was inspired to throw out my basal (which my principal JUST ordered) and do my reading instruction just like she does. But I was wondering how I could do this in a primary classroom, since Donalyn Miller teaches sixth grade. So, when a teacher blog set up a read-along of the Book Whisperer, I loosely followed along, and that's where I found that Donalyn Miller would answer bloggers' questions if they submitted them. So I submitted mine, asking how I could do her same plan in first and second grades.
And she picked MY question to answer!!!!!!! OMG! She told me I should read this book, so I got right on it.
And it is amazing. This book was written by a teacher in Colorado who does a reading workshop model with her first grade class. She gave very explicit directions on how to do it in your own class, and she recommended a ton of books - many multicultural! Love that. I also loved how she included real pictures and samples of her students' work. That made me think that maybe I can do this!
So, I can't really throw out my basals, but I think I can make this work. I also just bought this at the Borders clearance yesterday!
March 5, 2013
From Amazon...
Here you will learn:
techniques for modeling thinking;
specific examples of modeled strategy lessons for inferring, asking questions, making connections, determining importance in text, creating mental images, and synthesizing information;
how to help children make their thinking visible through oral, written, artistic, and dramatic responses to literature;
how to successfully develop book clubs as a way for children to share their thinking.
Reading with Meaning shows you how to bring your imagined classroom to life. You will emerge with new tools for teaching comprehension strategies and a firm appreciation that a rigorous classroom can also be nurturing and joyful.
RwM is a MUST read for beginning teachers and teachers wanting to begin instructing with best practices. It's easy to read, practical and the ideas and strategies are easy enough to try the next day.
Here you will learn:
techniques for modeling thinking;
specific examples of modeled strategy lessons for inferring, asking questions, making connections, determining importance in text, creating mental images, and synthesizing information;
how to help children make their thinking visible through oral, written, artistic, and dramatic responses to literature;
how to successfully develop book clubs as a way for children to share their thinking.
Reading with Meaning shows you how to bring your imagined classroom to life. You will emerge with new tools for teaching comprehension strategies and a firm appreciation that a rigorous classroom can also be nurturing and joyful.
RwM is a MUST read for beginning teachers and teachers wanting to begin instructing with best practices. It's easy to read, practical and the ideas and strategies are easy enough to try the next day.
February 17, 2010
This book has some really great ideas for mini lessons when teaching Reading Comprehension. Concrete examples help the newer teacher like myself.
It isn't the only reading book you should purchase if you are a new teacher but it is a helpful one. Other reading books that are incredibly helpful are The Book Whispererby Donalyn Miller, The Daily Five by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser, and Growing Readers: Units of study in the Primary Classroom by Kathy Collins
These 3 books will shape your reading curriculum and give you a good balance of implementing an independent reading program in your classroom and mini lessons that you can use with your students to foster their growth as life-long readers.
It isn't the only reading book you should purchase if you are a new teacher but it is a helpful one. Other reading books that are incredibly helpful are The Book Whispererby Donalyn Miller, The Daily Five by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser, and Growing Readers: Units of study in the Primary Classroom by Kathy Collins
These 3 books will shape your reading curriculum and give you a good balance of implementing an independent reading program in your classroom and mini lessons that you can use with your students to foster their growth as life-long readers.
Currently reading
September 9, 2009This is one of those books that seemed to have disappeared from school. Everyone says we had it, but I can't find it. It is on order for next year. Any hints, tips for using it as a PD tool would be welcome.
From Carrie E: A great book to help teachers help to understand how to be more explicit with comprehension strategies. One point to not get stuck in is her model of teaching a comprehension strategy a month. Many other experts in the field would suggest that teaching comprehension strategies early on in the first few months and then helping students to use those strategies within other areas of study in reading is much more relevant.
From Carrie E: A great book to help teachers help to understand how to be more explicit with comprehension strategies. One point to not get stuck in is her model of teaching a comprehension strategy a month. Many other experts in the field would suggest that teaching comprehension strategies early on in the first few months and then helping students to use those strategies within other areas of study in reading is much more relevant.
October 24, 2009
Debbie Miller's disarming writing style makes you feel as if you're dialoguing with her about teaching reading in an elementary setting - the book nearly vanishes and there you are, sipping a cup of coffee and listening to Miller respond (patiently!) to your myriad questions. Throughout the text she takes the reader with her, through teaching hiccups and tough lessons learned, and anticipates every question you have. It's easy to see she's a realistic idealist, someone who has high expectations but doesn't beat herself up for making mistakes. That kind of tone is too often missing in other books about education and sets this one apart from the rest.
November 28, 2013
What a great book to read when teaching reading! Reading is more than just phonics and fluency. So often the comprehension part of reading is over looked and under taught. Debbie Miller does a fantastic job at explaining through classroom examples of how even the youngest students can use connections, schema, predictions, questioning, inferences, and synthesizing through out their reading and life.
Her approach to "Reader's Workshop" is wonderful and straightforward. I had no problem reading this book and many times couldn't put it down! It has changed the way that I teach reading and how I plan on using read-out-louds in my classroom. Very helpful!
Her approach to "Reader's Workshop" is wonderful and straightforward. I had no problem reading this book and many times couldn't put it down! It has changed the way that I teach reading and how I plan on using read-out-louds in my classroom. Very helpful!
September 4, 2017
The content of this second edition deserves four stars, but the fact that there is so little difference between the first and second editions of the book merits two stars, hence the overall rating of three stars. So, if you've never read this and you teach 1st or 2nd grade children to read, I do highly recommend you get yourself a copy. It's an accessible, well-written guide to growing a love of reading in children while building their higher-order comprehension skills, in particular. It includes unit overviews, anecdotes, broad lesson ideas, and lists of recommended texts organized by strategy.
July 29, 2008
I bought this book over the summer for another one of my master's classs. It is a must have resource for any lower elementary teacher. Debbie Miller does an outstanding job of teaching you about how to implement explicit reading instruction in your classroom. She begins with how she lays out the beginning of the school year and takes you all the way through June. There are wonderful examples of students work and of Miller modeling various ideas and strategies. I plan on using this resource to begin my school year off the right way in terms of my literacy block.
Read
July 18, 2008Great resource!! Love the graphic organizer examples on evoking vivid mental images in their writing, making connections, questioning charts, questioning webs, and more. Making predictions about text. Sticky notes to share on page 110. Making inferences easier for them by providing them with experiences and them being able to say "Inferring is thinking about waht's going to happen in the future". These graphic organizers show evidence of their LEARNING!!!!
July 21, 2009
This book is a quick read but really thought- provoking and overflowing with good ideas. I am so excited to put some of this to use in my classroom. She gives really good tips on how to cultivate a calm, child- centered classroom environment. I wish her strategies were illustrated a little more by providing examples of children who really struggle with literacy and how they perform/ progress within her framework as opposed to mainly giving examples of those who excel.
February 20, 2010
I LOVED this book. Debbie Miller's writing makes me want to jump up and run to my Media Center to try out her teaching strategies. She has a warm and descriptive way of writing that makes it so easy to visualize her classroom and makes me wish I could be there! She has some great ideas for teaching reading comprehension. The only thing is, it's a whole lot at once. It'll take some re-reading for it to all sink in.
July 9, 2014
This to me is my "Bible", if you would, from the very first day that I begin setting up my Second Grade classroom. Debbie Miller invites you into her own class, and takes you on an amazing journey, as she teaches her primary students the seven keys to comprehension. She is absolutely an outstanding author, so engaging, and her lessons and books that she chooses as mentor texts just incredible. A truly worthwhile read ... and extremely enjoyable one, at that. You will love it!
February 21, 2017
A must read for any educator-primary or secondary level. I'm impressed with this book for so many reasons (including showcasing a phenomenal teacher and a community of learners), but mainly how Debbie Miller honors how children learn best: providing children the opportunity to be the ones who are doing most of the reading, writing, and talking. These kids are the ones getting smarter. This is a resource I will return to again and again.
January 15, 2010
I think was one of the texts for a class I took while working on my reading courses. Although, I currently work with intermediate to middle grades in reading, there were ideas there that can be formed to use in all grades. Gave a good look at what the primary grades are doing to evolve into a reader.
January 21, 2012
I moved from 4th to 3rd grade last year and had to relearn reading. I did not like what I did, so I read a book recommended by the 2nd grade teacher. It revolutionized my teaching for language arts. Love the way she teaches active reading strategies and makes them so organically part of the classroom routine. Now my kids come to me loving to read and they continue that love in my class. Amazing!
March 12, 2011
Anything by Debbie Miller is informative and insightful. I love how she teaches that even young children can be thinkers and learners. This book really changed my feelings about comprehension (thinking) strategies and what primary children are capable of learning and doing!
January 26, 2012
Debbie's book changed the way I thought about teaching primary students to read. Instead of thinking of beginning readers as simply decoders, she invited me to open up space for my young students to think and engage deeply in books. Every primary reading teacher should read this book.
November 20, 2013
I really like Debbie Millers suggestions and creative ideas in order to get students thinking about what they are really. She gave suggestions for poetry, book talks, building your schema, book bins. I really enjoyed all the examples and students examples.
March 6, 2016
Great book with lessons and ideas for teaching comprehension. There is a newer version that would have updated lists of books to read. I read this one quite a few years ago and am so glad I reread it!
July 26, 2017
Good refresher about reading instruction and how to do it the right way!
I wish I had more instructional time to do even more of this- learning for the sake of learning, as it should be!
I wish I had more instructional time to do even more of this- learning for the sake of learning, as it should be!
April 25, 2007
must have for professional library!!!
August 18, 2007
After 2 book studies on Debbie Miller's book, this has to be a favorite: I really like a lot of her ideas and have tried them with my kiddos
November 9, 2007
read this for our school's faculty bookclub. the photographs included throughout the book are just as valuable as the words themselves. made me miss being in the classroom.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews