What do you think?
Rate this book
Forged by Reading
Bestselling authors Kylene Beers and Robert E. Probst expand the vision of what it means to be an independent reader in our schools and in our nation by challenging our concepts of literacy. In an educational climate dictated by standards, tests, and mandates, Beers and Probst offer a needed vision of the interrelated nature of literacy and democracy, while they inspire us to do the hard work. Divided into three parts―Change, Power, and Hope―each section of the book helps us reenvision a world where all experience the power of a literate life.
208 pages, Paperback
Published November 13, 2020
22 people are currently reading
435 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 8, 2021
I need to buy like ten of these to hand out to my team. A roadmap to the future of ELA defined not just by standards and strategies but by the values, principles, and hope we must feed. So weird to see things from the past year (like BLM and Covid) written about in the past tense, but also amazing to see them placed directly into the context of the high school English classroom. WOW!
January 10, 2021
Very much a professional book for our current times - I highly recommend it for anyone in the field of education, specifically anyone who works with kids (of all ages!) and books. An inspiring read.
March 13, 2021
If you’re looking for something to reset and and remind you of your intentions to teach—reading especially—this is the book that will fire you up.
February 12, 2024
Every teacher should read this book. I learned so much about my own classroom routine, and it also made me think differently about my own classroom practices, teaching philosophy, and overall pedagogy. As mentioned in the book, "Reading is far more than a window or a mirror. Reading, reading with purpose and passion, with a curious mind and a skeptical eye, is a way to find yourself while crafting yourself; to become independent of manipulation, of control, of a life determined by someone else. Reading is power" (Beers & Probst, 2020).
June 26, 2021
Kylene Beers and Bob Probst always motivate me to do right by my students. Their writing is conversational, truthful, and challenging. If you haven’t read any of their books yet, this is the one you should read. It’s not a how-to; it’s the why.
January 2, 2021
Every reading/literacy teacher and leader needs to read this book!
~Stan of BEERS & PROBST
~Stan of BEERS & PROBST
July 27, 2021
Reading is power!
January 3, 2022
Another great book by Beers and Probst that offers many real-life examples along with strategies. I appreciate how the authors offer ideas for different grade levels.
I loved the chapter From Hard Thinking to Hardly Thinking - it's so timely with references to Covid-19 and mask wearing, vaccines, LGBTQ, and more. So what is the relevance of this information when it comes to reading As the authors explain, "this book is about creating readers who think, who live empowered lives, who live self-determined lives shape by evidence and reason, vision and imagination. To get students to that point, we must recognize that it is hard to change our minds." They go on to explain how important relevance is when reading. The chart on pages 112 - 113 with the columns what students said, what we needed to hear, and what's our so what follows this relevancy so well and provides a great example for us. Just as they did in their Reading Nonfiction book, they use the three question of what surprised you; what did the author think you knew; and what confirmed, challenged, or changed your thinking. Again as in the aforementioned book, they include a chart of nonfiction signposts and also include a chart of fiction signposts. Teachers could post these charts in their room and make copies for learners.
Hooray for chapter 15 which focuses on independent reading. We are making small headways in this area at my school. I realize how lucky I was at my previous school that 12 of 17 English teachers offered independent reading in their classes and provided enough time for learners to read while in class. Over and over again, I saw learners excited to read, talking about books with one another, making recommendations to their peers, teachers, and library. The chart on page 161 testifies to the importance of building this culture in all schools.
A big kudos to the authors for including the chapter Sitting in Discomfort which perfectly testifies to our world today, particularly those states such as mine (NH) which recently passed a Right to Freedom from Discrimination in Public Workplaces and Education Law which gives the greenlight to classroom censorship. Oh, and NH went even further with our Commissioner of Education publicly creating a system for reporting educator non-compliance and a procedures that would lead to taking away teaching credentials. The NH Moms for Liberty chapter then offered a $500 bounty to anyone who catches a teacher breaking this law. Good times in NH...
This book, coupled with the authors' Reading Nonfiction need to be read by all educators.
I loved the chapter From Hard Thinking to Hardly Thinking - it's so timely with references to Covid-19 and mask wearing, vaccines, LGBTQ, and more. So what is the relevance of this information when it comes to reading As the authors explain, "this book is about creating readers who think, who live empowered lives, who live self-determined lives shape by evidence and reason, vision and imagination. To get students to that point, we must recognize that it is hard to change our minds." They go on to explain how important relevance is when reading. The chart on pages 112 - 113 with the columns what students said, what we needed to hear, and what's our so what follows this relevancy so well and provides a great example for us. Just as they did in their Reading Nonfiction book, they use the three question of what surprised you; what did the author think you knew; and what confirmed, challenged, or changed your thinking. Again as in the aforementioned book, they include a chart of nonfiction signposts and also include a chart of fiction signposts. Teachers could post these charts in their room and make copies for learners.
Hooray for chapter 15 which focuses on independent reading. We are making small headways in this area at my school. I realize how lucky I was at my previous school that 12 of 17 English teachers offered independent reading in their classes and provided enough time for learners to read while in class. Over and over again, I saw learners excited to read, talking about books with one another, making recommendations to their peers, teachers, and library. The chart on page 161 testifies to the importance of building this culture in all schools.
A big kudos to the authors for including the chapter Sitting in Discomfort which perfectly testifies to our world today, particularly those states such as mine (NH) which recently passed a Right to Freedom from Discrimination in Public Workplaces and Education Law which gives the greenlight to classroom censorship. Oh, and NH went even further with our Commissioner of Education publicly creating a system for reporting educator non-compliance and a procedures that would lead to taking away teaching credentials. The NH Moms for Liberty chapter then offered a $500 bounty to anyone who catches a teacher breaking this law. Good times in NH...
This book, coupled with the authors' Reading Nonfiction need to be read by all educators.
February 20, 2022
A must read for any educator, and (more importantly), any education policy maker.
July 26, 2021
You would think that as a member of the choir that's heard this sermon a number of times at ILA, at NCTE, during online chats with other educators/authors that I would simply nod and mumble Amen while reading the book. And I did nod and voice my agreement with the authors again and again; however, I also took copious notes of new information, of the results of brain research, of the words of educator wisdom from the past and the present, of the book titles that had yet to make it to my must read list, of the history and outside connections shared, of the arguments for why students should read a lot and widely and often, of the ideas that I'm embarrassed to say I never considered. The best part is that I can take the new information and fold it into what I already have my students do and combine it with other ideas I’ve gathered from other educator heroes.
For those who are fans of the Beers and Probst writing duo, rest assured that Kylene and Bob, as always, connect reading to democracy, include humor, connect teaching to coaching, include book titles from various genres and for various grade levels, include student dialogue, and express their disdain for Lexile levels and society's hyper focus on testing. They've added a couple of different things in this book including artwork, related quotes from non educators, pushing hard for equity in education, colorful language (i.e. "that damned test"), talking about the power of rereading, and the importance of teaching kids to practice civil discourse with each other rather than debate.
Kylene and Bob offer great support and encouragement to teachers, but they challenge us as well. They say English teachers who are not readers should teach something else because "...how do you, to the best of your ability, help kids become what you are not?" They say that in order to get books for their classrooms, English teachers need to "Be loud. Be pushy." And they tells us to "be brave as you stand against all that would make your teaching less." 4.5
For those who are fans of the Beers and Probst writing duo, rest assured that Kylene and Bob, as always, connect reading to democracy, include humor, connect teaching to coaching, include book titles from various genres and for various grade levels, include student dialogue, and express their disdain for Lexile levels and society's hyper focus on testing. They've added a couple of different things in this book including artwork, related quotes from non educators, pushing hard for equity in education, colorful language (i.e. "that damned test"), talking about the power of rereading, and the importance of teaching kids to practice civil discourse with each other rather than debate.
Kylene and Bob offer great support and encouragement to teachers, but they challenge us as well. They say English teachers who are not readers should teach something else because "...how do you, to the best of your ability, help kids become what you are not?" They say that in order to get books for their classrooms, English teachers need to "Be loud. Be pushy." And they tells us to "be brave as you stand against all that would make your teaching less." 4.5
May 19, 2021
One of the best books on purposeful instruction of reading, especially for language arts teachers. It will change the way you do business. I read it with 5 other TLs, and they all felt it was a must-read book and would be suitable for the entire faculty to read.
June 18, 2021
Too preachy and more about telling students to believe like democrats than teaching them to think. It was all about teaching a personal philosophy, even if it upsets parents. This happens a lot in universities, but they advocate brainwashing students instead of teaching reading. Notice and Note is better.
February 12, 2021
Kylene Beers and Robert Probst have done it again! I thought their previous book Disrupting Thinking was the best professional book I've ever read, but their newest book has left me in complete awe.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Forged by Reading goes beyond reading strategies and inspires us to empower our students through literacy. They encourage us to think critically about the texts we read in order to shape our beliefs and make an impact on our world. They inspire us to help our students realize that power that literacy can hold for them and help them find themselves and their own voices the books they read.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This is a powerful and NECESSARY read for all educators, especially during these current times we're facing. It was definitely not a quick read for me as I took the time to really reflect on their message and the work I need to personally do to in order to take action moving forward.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you do not read any other professional book this year, please make sure you at least read this book.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Forged by Reading goes beyond reading strategies and inspires us to empower our students through literacy. They encourage us to think critically about the texts we read in order to shape our beliefs and make an impact on our world. They inspire us to help our students realize that power that literacy can hold for them and help them find themselves and their own voices the books they read.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This is a powerful and NECESSARY read for all educators, especially during these current times we're facing. It was definitely not a quick read for me as I took the time to really reflect on their message and the work I need to personally do to in order to take action moving forward.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you do not read any other professional book this year, please make sure you at least read this book.
February 17, 2021
This book will get teachers rethinking what they should value in their classrooms (hint: it shouldn’t be the curriculum first). Instead, we should be giving our students hope, showing them literacy is power, and thus inspiring change. I gained so much from reading this book: inspiration, knowledge, and, mostly importantly, I felt empowered to spark that hope/change within my students. If we teachers are truly in this for our kids, we need to do what’s best for all of them. That means pushing books by BIPOC authors, pushing students to question what they learn, and pushing ourselves to be okay with discomfort, for that’s where responsible thought could emerge and invoke change. There’s so much more to say about this must-read title by Beers and Probst, but I think this quote sums why we need it right now: “hope walks through the classroom door each day, and teachers look up and smile. It’s time we reclaim those reasons for schooling because what we’ve been doing didn’t work” (106).
June 23, 2021
An excellent read for any teachers who teach reading. This book is particularly relevant to the current times. It is not a book of strategies like their previous books, but does build on their previous thoughts. If you are feeling worn out and beaten down, this book will get you thinking about your “why” and fire you up again.
December 2, 2021
While this is a book written for educators, I would also recommend it to parents, grandparents, and those who believe an educated public makes for wiser and more engaged citizens.
It is not enough to require children to read and to test their comprehension. I was always an avid reader and yet bored stiff with most classes in secondary school. I understood at a young age that one of the marks of success was to complete your schooling without having all curiosity drained from you. We need children who can find more in reading than just completing a class assignment.
Excellent questions can engage and empower a child or teen to think about what they read and use new-found knowledge or questions to bring to their lives or to the world they live in. Actually, these questions work just as well for adults, and I can see adding some of these questions to book club.
There were many areas covered that I appreciate, including how teachers might deal with parents who want to restrict their child’s reading about challenging topics (suggest reading the book with the child so the parent can discuss sensitive areas or, if that is not an option, let the parent pick another book). When it comes to restricting books for all children in the school/grade, have a plan prepared in advance for your position and your school district position:”You may choose for your own child. You may not choose for others.”
In today’s world, where school boards are getting pressure from small but vocal groups to strip the libraries of any book that makes parents uncomfortable, I would hope more in the community realize how literacy leads to individuals gaining power over their own lives. These are the citizens of the future we need.
It is not enough to require children to read and to test their comprehension. I was always an avid reader and yet bored stiff with most classes in secondary school. I understood at a young age that one of the marks of success was to complete your schooling without having all curiosity drained from you. We need children who can find more in reading than just completing a class assignment.
Excellent questions can engage and empower a child or teen to think about what they read and use new-found knowledge or questions to bring to their lives or to the world they live in. Actually, these questions work just as well for adults, and I can see adding some of these questions to book club.
There were many areas covered that I appreciate, including how teachers might deal with parents who want to restrict their child’s reading about challenging topics (suggest reading the book with the child so the parent can discuss sensitive areas or, if that is not an option, let the parent pick another book). When it comes to restricting books for all children in the school/grade, have a plan prepared in advance for your position and your school district position:”You may choose for your own child. You may not choose for others.”
In today’s world, where school boards are getting pressure from small but vocal groups to strip the libraries of any book that makes parents uncomfortable, I would hope more in the community realize how literacy leads to individuals gaining power over their own lives. These are the citizens of the future we need.
January 8, 2022
Once again Kylene Beers and Robert Probst have written a must-read for ELA teachers. Their "Forged by Reading: The Power of a Literate Life" puts iron in the spine and reinvigorates the English teacher with why we wanted to teach in the first place: to inspire and empower ALL students to think about the world deeply. A functioning democracy demands that our students take ownership of their thinking and not give that responsibility to others. The best way to develop this critical capacity is through reading. They recognize, in this fraught world we live in, teachers find safety from the discomfort of social and political issues in the teaching of irrelevancy. Irrelevancy, such as reading for the main idea or identifying similes or the strict adherence to lexiles, does not offend or upset anyone and allows us to do our jobs in peace. Except no one in the real world decides to sit down and read a book for the main idea. We read to feel, learn, understand, and to change our thinking. Our role as teachers is to use literacy to empower students. Beers and Probst demonstrate how we can create classrooms that foster questioning, discussion, and real connections between the texts and our world. They also argue for why it is so important to have a classroom library that reflects all of our students and provide suggestions on how to deal with parents who want to remove books from your classroom library. This is a powerful and inspirational book and I recommend all teachers read it.
On a side note: One aspect of Beers and Probst's writing that I appreciate is their absolute joy in working with student and their delight in how serious and silly they can be. They know that embracing the silliness while also holding students to high standards is the secret to having a meaningful classroom.
On a side note: One aspect of Beers and Probst's writing that I appreciate is their absolute joy in working with student and their delight in how serious and silly they can be. They know that embracing the silliness while also holding students to high standards is the secret to having a meaningful classroom.
March 25, 2021
This is the best “professional” book I’ve read in a long time (perhaps ever). I put professional in quotation marks because so much of what is written in this book extends far outside a school building, and America’s healing would be quickened if ideals from this book were adopted in schools, businesses, and beyond. While the book perfectly outlines the power of literacy and its role in one’s becoming, it also outlines the importance of questioning our beliefs and practices. As educators, we must embrace discomfort and move beyond a focus of mastery in reading as we instead focus on helping students consider how texts change them, how what they read extends far beyond a class or a school year, and how their own literacy can give them power to follow and to lead, to understand and to influence.
As I read this, I constantly came back to the three big questions outlined by Beers and Probst in previous books. I especially stopped to consider what challenged, changed, or confirmed my beliefs. For me, this book did all three.
As I read this, I constantly came back to the three big questions outlined by Beers and Probst in previous books. I especially stopped to consider what challenged, changed, or confirmed my beliefs. For me, this book did all three.
January 17, 2021
Sometimes a book comes along and affirms your beliefs, your pedagogy, and your teaching. It surprised me how I want to find a way to empower all schools to have the freedom and flexibility to have choice as I do in my classroom. I wished the authors showed more about current teachers who are doing this (thankful for the community on Facebook to have these conversations, so maybe I should look there). There were many confirmations to my thinking; however, I'm still trying to process how I make this work in my class and school and how I can lift up others to do the same outside of my teaching community. This is powerful work, but isn't literacy equal to power?
February 16, 2021
Kylene Beers and Bob Probst have written a long line of books that continue to make me a better teacher. This one is no different. It seems to me, the more books they write, to bolder they become. This book holds back little. They are blunt about the future of readers and what we, as teachers, need to do to make our students think. Even to the point where they say that teachers have no choice but to spend their own money on their classroom libraries. This book empowers me to continue to reach students as readers. Oh, and the book made me laugh many times just be reading the footnotes!!
December 27, 2021
I really like their points in this book, but if you’ve read their other books, it’s quite redundant. I love the chapters about why Independent reading is so important. I did get a few ideas from those chapters, but overall, I felt like it didn’t offer a lot of new ideas from the other books and Not Light, But Fire, earlier this year (which I felt like offered a lot more concrete ways to incorporate diverse literature). It’s a great read for a teacher resistant to independent reading time or questioning how to break the canon in English classes.
December 28, 2021
I’m not sure why this book has been read by so few several months after its publication, because these authors are amazing and always have been. Maybe it’s the fact that COVID teaching has just depleted many educators and robbed us of the time to do professional reading, but I sincerely hope this one does not get bypassed. It’s just far too important of a read. I’m especially grateful for the redefinition of independent reading in this text. It will change how I frame the practice in my classroom.
January 1, 2022
Once again Beers & Probst have raised the stakes for what is possible in our education system. It is like they’ve taken all the questions that have been floating through my mind, and step by step helped me see the answers. As a middle school intensive reading teacher, I’m faced every day with the real human reality of our current faulty system. I have already purchased a copy for my reading coach, and I will be referring back to this book as a means to forge a new path with my students because, Lord knows, the road we are currently on is a dead end!
August 30, 2021
I'm already on board with everything in this book - but even so, I found that this book is a challenge for me to do even better.
For my fellow English teachers who have marked it as to-read, make it your next book. It is thankfully free of didactic skills or strategies. Beers and Probst share their ideas and then get out of the way to allow us to figure out what to do. Also, and I think this is important for professional development reading, it can be read very quickly.
For my fellow English teachers who have marked it as to-read, make it your next book. It is thankfully free of didactic skills or strategies. Beers and Probst share their ideas and then get out of the way to allow us to figure out what to do. Also, and I think this is important for professional development reading, it can be read very quickly.
December 29, 2023
I am a big fan of these two authors and have read a number of their books. This one spoke to my heart. The bottom line is that reading is what makes our world a better place and it should do something TO us. What happens in your head? What happens in your heart? And what will you do after reading what you've read? (This is part of their BHH approach - only now they've added a D at the end for what are you going to DO) It's all about the power of a literate life. They're singing my song!
August 7, 2021
It took me most of the summer, but I finished it! I have heard Bob and Kylene speak so many times that I could hear their voices as I read. The entire book was preaching to the choir for me, but since I’m moving to a new campus and will need new research to back up my style of teaching, it is perfect timing!!
February 13, 2021
This was a quick interesting read that explores the history of education and literacy and focuses on helping students become more critical independent readers and writers. This is not a book of strategies as one may be accustomed to from the authors.
March 26, 2023
An extremely basic book about the importance of literacy and reading in primarily elementary and middle school. I preferred In "Search of Deeper Learning" with its emphasis on high school curriculum and curriculum design.
January 1, 2021
An important book for all literacy educators --or all educators period.
February 7, 2021
This was not one of my favorite reads by this author. Sometimes when expect too much from an educational read, you are just disappointed unfortunately.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews