Reading Essentials: The Specifics You Need to Teach Reading Well

by Regie Routman

With all the controversy and confusion over "best practice" issues in teaching reading, someone with the necessary experience, the ability to take the long view, and most of all a level head is essential to set things straight. This is where Regie Routman steps giving clarity, support, specific demonstrations, and confidence to teachers so they can teach reading in a manner that is consistent with research and learning theory and respectful of students' needs, interests, and abilities. In Reading Essentials , she realistically describes how to achieve these goals-and get high test scores too. Based on her continuing work teaching in schools, Routman proves that good teaching doesn't have to mean lots of hours spent planning. What's necessary is good thinking-thinking about what matters to kids, what kids need to know, how we can move them forward, and how to ensure that they comprehend and enjoy what they read-including struggling students. Readers will discover research-based strategies, immediately doable ideas, and detailed lessons-all based on an instructional framework that Thoughout the text, Routman emphasizes the use of professional common sense and demonstrates how to maximize your time, making the most of every teachable moment. Practical, philosophical, and political, Reading Essentials gets to the heart of what excellent reading instruction is all about-and puts the fun back into your teaching.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Professional Development, Nonfiction, School

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

Reviews

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't very impressed with the first chapter, but it has gotten better. I am frustrated with the fact that this book gives the impression that it is for any teacher of reading, but it does not address issues in a realistic way for middle or high school teachers. The second half of the book begins to deal with issues that all reading teachers face and gives some ways to approach those issues that all teachers, not just elementary teachers, can try.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter's kindergarten teacher recommended this book as a help for understanding emerging reading and beyond. Despite being geared for teachers, along with the requisite jargon, the book is decipherable and Routman delivers some great ideas a parent can use.

Three things from the book I took to heart. Most importantly, a child absolutely must believe he can read. Routman tours schools, and where she finds children who are beginning to give in to the notion they can't and won't read, she finds something, anything (even a few letters) that they can read. It is a notion in a child that must be creatively and immediately reversed to encourage their efforts. Second, let the child arrange their own books in their own order . . . mine chose fiction and non-fiction. It was a fun exercise to divide the books up accordingly. The last to expose the child to book reviews, as well as encourage them to create their own share with friends or classmates. Thus, we have the Roz picks bookshelf along with Mom's books. I asked her to pick her top five books, and there you have it.

One thing this book recommends for any serious reader, particularly one who is serious about helping children love to read is to start a personal reading journal, which can can at least partially be answered by using goodreads to track.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just re-read this book as part of my research on the role of independent reading in the classroom for a district committee. She really is the literacy educator whose philosophy most parallels my own. Very thoughtful and challenging to both preconceptions and commonly accepted practice.

[Laura Latall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for a grad class. As a high school English teacher, it wasn't very helpful to me because it is very focused on early elementary school. It does include a lot of specific ideas that would probably be beneficial in kindergarten to fifth grade classrooms though.

[Maria Hrickova · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything by Regie is amazing.

[Kris Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous! I love that she insists that teachers keep track of the books they read.
I noticed Regie and I have similar reading tastes. I'm pretty sure we'd be friends. :)

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Regie Routman never fails to inform and educate. I borrowed this book from a colleague and needless to say, I will be purchasing my own copy. This book has everything you need to be a successful reading instructor. It has all of the information that many of us have heard and learned in theory. But, I love the way the book is concise and includes more application that is real and useful for educators and less theory. I think we all know why we need to include ample time for reading in the classroom, but this book provides some of the simple shortcuts we may not have thought of or had the opportunity to look at all in one place. This book tops my to buy list for this summer.

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Routman is enthralling. I feel so inspired and excited to teach reading! My only complaints (and they are all minor) is that it is a little repetitive and cheesy, and I sometimes got confused by the terms she uses for different ways of reading. However, she does explain everything really well and she provides examples. Also, there's a glossary at the back to help you out.
FYI: this is mostly for elementary teachers, but there are some useful ideas for high school teachers as well. Maybe secondary teachers should borrow this book instead of buying it.

[Rae Hittinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is very mindful of red tape(ie crap) that teachers have to go through when considering their teaching methods. She provides research to support what teachers really should be/want to be doing when teaching, and enables teachers to do so through excplicit writing. I particularly enjoyed the part about writing about reading.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for giving tips on teaching reading using authentic and engaging instruction. Not just the theory behind instruction but also practical ways to implement instructional strategies in the classroom. These ideas that Routman presents could actually be successfully accomplished in a regular classroom, not just in an ideal situation.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved and agreed with everything Regie had to say about teaching reading. I wish I had discovered this book years ago. I found it more informative and practical than most of the professional books I have read. I plan on reading more of Regie's books now. I borrowed this book from the library, but plan to purchase it for my personal collection.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of my books I am reading are text books but some are facinating-
Regie Routman has a very forward thinking look at teaching reading and writing-if any of you need help for your kids in that area.

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Routman is obviously a knowledgeable member of the field of education. This book offers advice on teaching reading, but if you are looking for specific advice, this is not the resource you need. Routman requires you to trust yourself as an educator and make decisions about your own classroom.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for a grad class, and it was really useful. I have already implemented a few ideas from the book in my classroom. The biggest problem I had was that many of the ideas were meant more for elementary classrooms instead of high school classrooms.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old faithful...whenever I need to reconnect with my reading instruction habits I go back to this book. Essential for all teachers, especially those that know that worksheets and book reports are not the road to reading

[Kurt · Rating 4 out of 5]

73. Reading Essentials. 224 Pages. By Reggie Routman. This is another best practice piece of literature that you would find very helpful in your classroom as a writing instructor of young adolescents. This one earned a four star rating ****

[Liz Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that delivers on its promises. Regie Routman clearly and concisely lays out literacy goals we should all be aiming for and helps us find ways to implement programs we might not already be using. A highly practical book that will serve as personal reference for a while to come.

[Brigit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Describes an ideal and practical reading classroom! Routman writes with candor and eloquence. Easy and enjoyable professional text. I plan to try to integrate many of these ideas into my own classroom.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important must read for anyone who is teaching or will be teaching elementary reading.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Regie, about reading: My classroom library is modeled after her system here

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overview of how to best teach reading in the elementary classroom. I like everything she's ever writtten, but this is the one I recommend to new teachers.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far this book is great. I thought maybe i'd look into some freelance tutoring, and should brush up on the subject. Very insightful.

[Eleanor Ramson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book 3 times in a row. It is very exciting to me.

[Janene AKA Ms. Palumbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book totally changed how I teach reading. Seriously. Worth a read.

[Kimberly]

Winter 2009

[Jen Munnerlyn]

We have 7 copies of this book in the ACS Library. One copy will remain in the ES Lit Library.

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Works for high school students, too.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

EDR 622

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Targeted for early childhood literacy, but is still a "back to basics" with gems applicable to MS/HS. Also has very practical ideas to go from theory to classroom (good scaffolding and assessments).