Next Steps in Literacy Instruction: Connecting Assessments to Effective Interventions

Smartt (Vanderbilt U., Nashville) and Boise, Idaho-based education consultant Glaser provide a learning tool and guiding resource for schools that use data-based decision making (formative assessments) or for education professionals striving to advance reading instruction for the prevention of reading difficulties and remediation of struggling readers. The authors provide K-6 educators with strategies for translating the results of literacy assessments such as DIBELS, TPRI, FAIR, and AIMSweb into targeted interventions and improved reading outcomes. The text utilizes a small-group, five-part reading intervention lesson design consisting of a review and warm-up primer for the lesson, explicit teaching of new content through modeling, student practice of the concept and teacher feedback, multiple and varied practice activities, and monitoring of student progress. Sample lesson plans and activities, reproducible forms, and worksheets are included for teaching struggling readers to read, phoneme awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)