The science of reading is the body of research that has been conducted on how we learn to read and write. This research has been conducted over decades, but only recently has much of it been introduced to today’s classroom teachers.
It’s important to note that as more research is conducted, we may need to revise our previous understandings. In addition, there is disagreement when it comes to translational science: how to apply this science to day-to-day teaching.
I say this to let you know that while I recommend all of these books, the authors do not agree with each other on all points.
Click a link below to jump right to the section you’re looking for!
- Easy to read books about the science of reading
- Other general books about the science of reading
- Books about assessment
- Books about oral language
- Books about phonics, spelling, and word recognition
- Books about dyslexia
- Books about teaching students with reading difficulties (not dyslexia-specific)
- Books about comprehension
- Books about fluency
- Books about grammar and/or syntax
- Books about vocabulary
- Books about differentiation
- Books about morphology
- Books about MTSS
- Books about teaching writing
- Books about how we learn
- Books about explicit instruction
- Books about etymology and more (for word nerds)
Easy to read books about the science of reading
Lindsay Kemeny
This is my new favorite book for people new to the science of reading – but veteran teachers will love it too! Lindsay Kemeny used to be a balanced literacy teacher. But when she realized that she didn’t know how to help her dyslexic son, she took a deep dive into effective literacy instruction for ALL kids. The book shares seven research-based actions that will help you meet the needs of all your students. QR codes will take you right into her classroom. The book is beautiful, easy to read, and oh so practical. Love!
Jan Burkins & Kari Yates
This is the book for balanced literacy teachers who want to learn about the science of reading. Burkins and Yates encourage them to begin their science of reading journey by making six shifts in how they approach beginning reading instruction.
For those passionate about the science of reading, this book will be too simple and not go far enough. But for those starting out, it’s the ideal first step.
For those passionate about the science of reading, this book will be too simple and not go far enough. But for those starting out, it’s the ideal first step.
David Liben & Meredith Liben
This was the first book I read as a balanced literacy teacher trying to understand the science of reading. I loved hearing how the Libens began a beautiful, well-funded whole language school in the 90’s. They were confident in their approach, but at the end of the year their students performed miserably on the reading assessment! When they switched to a more structured approach, their students succeeded (and they still learned to love reading). Such an enjoyable read! It’s currently out of print, but I heard that a new edition is coming in 2024.
Christopher Such
After reading this gem it’s now on my list as a must-read for both new and experienced teachers. Christopher Such is brilliant at explaining complex topics in simple ways, and even if you think you know everything there is to know about the science of reading, I guarantee that he’ll challenge you to think about something in a new way.
My favorite part of the book is the recommended reading schedules by grade level in the book.
Easy to read, easy to apply … can’t recommend it enough!
My favorite part of the book is the recommended reading schedules by grade level in the book.
Easy to read, easy to apply … can’t recommend it enough!
Lyn Stone
I’m hooked on Lyn Stone’s work – I take her courses, read her blog posts, and devour her books. I admit that I was a little off-put when I first read this book, because she’s pretty severe on balanced literacy. But a few years later, now that I am fully aware of balanced literacy’s issues, I’ve read it again and love it without hesitation. In addition to explaining how to give high quality literacy instruction, Stone walks us through the reading wars and gives us insight into what made many of us swallow three-cueing and other balanced literacy myths. I love this book; it reads like a novel.
Kevin Wheldall, Robyn Wheldall & Jennifer Buckingham, Editors
This may be my very favorite book about the science of reading. It’s comprehensive, easy-to-read, filled with research references, and a beautiful textbook. The chapters are written by different experts, yet the entire book flows beautifully and is an incredible reference book for any reading teacher. I really don’t have space here to list everything I love about this book.
If you have a question about the science of reading – including how to teach high frequency words, what to think about the speech-to-print and print-to-speech controversy, when to transition students out of decodable books, etc. – it’s likely addressed in this book – with research references.
The only problem for us Americans (and it’s a big one!) is that this book must be shipped from Australia. It’s not inexpensive, but you have my word that it’s worth every penny. Your other option is to purchase a less expensive ebook, which is also available at the above link through Vital Source.
If you have a question about the science of reading – including how to teach high frequency words, what to think about the speech-to-print and print-to-speech controversy, when to transition students out of decodable books, etc. – it’s likely addressed in this book – with research references.
The only problem for us Americans (and it’s a big one!) is that this book must be shipped from Australia. It’s not inexpensive, but you have my word that it’s worth every penny. Your other option is to purchase a less expensive ebook, which is also available at the above link through Vital Source.
Bill Honig, Linda Diamond, Linda Gutlohn
Not only does this book give you the big picture of teaching reading (with research to back it up), it also breaks down print awareness, letter knowledge, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary and more.
I love the practical examples and the easy-to-read format. Don’t let the price tag scare you – it’s worth it.
I love the practical examples and the easy-to-read format. Don’t let the price tag scare you – it’s worth it.
YOU’LL LOVE THIS PRACTICAL BOOK!
Looking for an easy-to-read guide to help you reach all readers? If you teach kindergarten through third grade, this is the book for you. Get practical ideas and lesson plan templates that you can implement tomorrow!
Other books about the science of reading in general
Jeanne Chall
You will need to buy a used copy of this classic, but I urge you to put it on your list! Its editions were published in 1967, 1983, and 1996 – but the science that Jeanne Chall shared still hasn’t found its way into many American classrooms.
It took the author three years to write the first edition of this book as she combed over thousands of pages of relevant reading research. Chall’s conclusion? “Beginning readers learn better when their instruction emphasizes learning the alphabetic code, one that places first importance at the beginning on learning the relationship between letters and their sounds.”
Anyone serious about learning the science of reading should read this book. Grab a highlighter – you’ll find countless gems!
It took the author three years to write the first edition of this book as she combed over thousands of pages of relevant reading research. Chall’s conclusion? “Beginning readers learn better when their instruction emphasizes learning the alphabetic code, one that places first importance at the beginning on learning the relationship between letters and their sounds.”
Anyone serious about learning the science of reading should read this book. Grab a highlighter – you’ll find countless gems!
Lee Sherman & Betsy Ramsey
This was a fascinating, easy-to-read book about the reading wars and what really works. I love the stories scattered throughout – stories of people who struggled for years (sometimes decades) but finally learned to read through proper instruction. The authors are honest about why reading research is hard for teachers to get through (they compare reading a scientific report to eating a. bowl of cold sauerkraut), but also provide many reputable authors and resources that will help teachers learn the science in a digestible way.
(Side note – While I really enjoyed and recommend this book, the authors’ not-so-subtle derision of politically conservative values got old really fast.)
(Side note – While I really enjoyed and recommend this book, the authors’ not-so-subtle derision of politically conservative values got old really fast.)
Daniel Langenberg, et al.
In 1997, Congress convened the National Reading Panel to assess the effectiveness of different approaches used to teach children to read. The panel’s 14 members spent several years studying the research and submitted their report in the year 2000. Every teacher should read at least the summary report of the National Reading Panel; both the summary and the full report can be downloaded for free online. I store this book in the basement because my upstairs bookshelf is full, but I constantly find myself bringing it back up! This meta-analysis is incredibly useful!
Mark Seidenberg
Not gonna lie … I had this book on my shelf for a couple of years before I finally read it. And the only reason I finished it is because it was required reading for a course I was taking.
This book is on most “must-read” science of reading book lists, but it’s not easy to get through. I appreciate Seidenberg’s goal – to help teachers understand the research and how it can help us shape our teaching – but man, the book needs subtitles. If you have the patience to get through it, you’ll learn a lot. Seidenberg is brilliant, and I always find his perspectives interesting (even if I don’t agree). But to get a lot out of it you may need to read it twice.
This book is on most “must-read” science of reading book lists, but it’s not easy to get through. I appreciate Seidenberg’s goal – to help teachers understand the research and how it can help us shape our teaching – but man, the book needs subtitles. If you have the patience to get through it, you’ll learn a lot. Seidenberg is brilliant, and I always find his perspectives interesting (even if I don’t agree). But to get a lot out of it you may need to read it twice.
Marilyn Jager Adams
This 1990 classic is one that every student of the science of reading should read. Adams summarizes the research on beginning reading and recommends an initial focus on phonics (sound familiar?). She also describes the four-part processor, which is often incorrectly attributed to Seidenberg and McClellan. It’s important to know more recent research as well, but Adams’ book has stood the test of time.
Harriet Janetos
This book would have tough for me at the beginning of my science of reading journey, but a few years in, I found it very interesting and thought-provoking. Janetos is an experienced teacher and life-long learner who reframes the Big Five through the strands of Scarborough’s Reading Rope. I especially appreciate the Green Lights, Red Flags, and Gray Areas – as well as the lists of helpful articles and books in each section.
One challenge I had with this book is that the format, while colorful, includes many different fonts and layouts – making it a bit distracting. Once I got past that I got a lot out of this book. One to read and reread!
One challenge I had with this book is that the format, while colorful, includes many different fonts and layouts – making it a bit distracting. Once I got past that I got a lot out of this book. One to read and reread!
Irene Daria
This book is different from the others in my list because it reads like a novel. While it’s not “how to” manual for teaching reading, it’s a story that must be told and one that every teacher should read. Irene Daria explains that her kindergarten son told her that his teacher wasn’t teaching him to read, and Irene dismissed his concerns; after all, how could her son’s elite New York school be getting reading wrong? It wasn’t long before she discovered that her son was becoming a casualty of balanced literacy. The story is shocking and compelling and one I couldn’t put down.
Heidi Anne Mesmer & Katie Hilden
What a treasure this book is! Mesmer and Hilden answer 20 commonly asked questions related to the science of reading (such as whether to incorporate letters with phonemic awareness instruction and the proper use of decodable text). They examine the current research, provide a summary, and offer implications for classroom instruction. My only complaint is that I wish it were longer – I will refer to this book often!
Books about assessment
Susan M Smartt & Deborah R. Glaser
This book will help teachers know how to use universal screening assessment results to provide data-based instruction. I appreciate the clear explanation of best practices in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, along with step-by-step activities and interventions for improving skills in each of these areas.
Books about oral language
Tricia A. Zucker & Sonia Q. Cabell
The idea of teaching oral language is difficult because there’s no such thing as an oral language scope and sequence. But this book breaks it all down for teachers, showing them how to ramp up conversations with students during read alouds and other times of the day. The book is beautiful, easy-to-read, and inspiring. A must-own for PreK-3rd grade teachers!
Books about phonics and word recognition
Wiley Blevins
I recommend Blevins’ books every chance I get, and when I see he’s published a new one I buy it immediately. They are all easy to read and incredibly practical – yet still building on the science of reading. In this book WIley uses the data he’s collected to show which phonics approaches really work. Learn activities, routines, and lesson formats that will make your phonics lessons both engaging and powerful.
Louisa Moats
This book is on pretty much every science of reading book list, and it’s no wonder.
I love how the book breaks down everything teachers should know about the English language – with exercises (and answer keys) so you can make sure you understand.
You can even purchase an accompanying workbook!
If you’re like I was a couple of years ago – and don’t know a fricative from a liquid or a grapheme from a morpheme, this is the book for you!
I love how the book breaks down everything teachers should know about the English language – with exercises (and answer keys) so you can make sure you understand.
You can even purchase an accompanying workbook!
If you’re like I was a couple of years ago – and don’t know a fricative from a liquid or a grapheme from a morpheme, this is the book for you!
David A. Kilpatrick
This book has been many teachers’ entry point into the science of reading. Kilpatrick explains things in an easy-to-understand way; I credit his many online workshops for helping me grasp the concept of orthographic mapping. In this book he explains the importance of phonemic awareness and includes one-minute phonemic awareness drills to build this important skill. Note: There is a current debate in the SOR community about whether or not advanced phonemic awareness skills are necessary. I’m not going to weigh in on that here, but just keep that in mind as you read.
Wiley Blevins
If you’re making the switch from leveled to decodable books (or just want to do a better job of teaching with decodables), THIS is the book you need. In his trademark style, Blevins presents useful information in a conversational format with lots of helpful examples so you’re immediately ready to apply what you learned. Learn how to choose decodable books and how to develop before, during and after routines to make the most of them.
Frances Bloom and Nina Traub
This book is a “logically organized and successfully tested program for reading instruction.” While I have not used the lessons in order as described, I have used them as a reference when planning Orton-Gillingham based reading lessons. I love the lists of words and sentences for decoding and encoding practice. My copy is getting ragged; I’m guessing yours will, too!
Julia B. Lindsey
I’ve gotten the vibe that some science of reading advocates aren’t impressed with this book because it has a balanced literacy bent, but it didn’t feel that way to me. Research references fill the book, and Lindsey has given us a very easy-to-read, practical guide for teaching foundational skills, with a small nod to fluency and comprehension.
Wiley Blevins
True story: I jumped out of my seat when reading this book because my website is referenced on page 40 (just to mention my big list of alphabet books, but still). This is a book you’ll reference over and over because it includes word lists, powerful instructional routines, and sections about teaching phonics to struggling readers and English learners. It’s a classic that every reading teacher should own!
Denise Eide
It turns out that English isn’t so “crazy” after all. In fact, 98% of English spellings have a logical explanation.
This book is recommended reading for anyone who wants to become a stronger reading teacher.
I don’t recommend you teach ALL the rules … there are a lot! But the more you know, the more equipped you are as you help your students read and spell.
This book is recommended reading for anyone who wants to become a stronger reading teacher.
I don’t recommend you teach ALL the rules … there are a lot! But the more you know, the more equipped you are as you help your students read and spell.
Rollanda E. O’Connor
If you teach struggling readers, this book is a MUST-READ. The layout isn’t particuarly eye-catching, but once you get started you won’t be able to put it down. O’Connor’s book includes brilliant strategies for helping kids remember letters of the alphabet, learn to decode, and sound out multi-syllable words. It’s another one I want to take the time to re-read.
A treasure for sure!
A treasure for sure!
Isabel L. Beck & Mark E. Beck
I say this a lot, but this book really is a must-read (and must-own!). From the back cover: “This bestselling book provides indispensable tools and strategies for explicit, systematic phonics instruction in K-3. This volume is packed with engaging activities, many specific examples, and research-based explanations.”
It’s been a few years since I read it; paging through it makes me eager to read it again!
It’s been a few years since I read it; paging through it makes me eager to read it again!
Heidi Anne Mesmer
Wow – this is the book that all K-5th grade teachers need. I love that Mesmer addresses both syllable types and morphemes, with a scope and sequence for teaching students to read longer words. The book is brimming with helpful charts and tutorials. I can’t say enough good things about it – just get it!
J. Richard Gentry & Gene P. Ouelette
I’m still trying to figure out Richard Gentry, as my impression is that he walks the line between balanced and structured literacy. That said, I thought this book was mostly excellent. The authors call words that have been orthographically mapped “brain words,” and they’re clear that words become brain words when we begin with instruction in phonological awareness and phonics. They criticize whole language and other whole word approaches. The main emphasis of the book is a simple, step by step process for integrating reading and spelling with the goal of turning words into “brain words.”
I gave the book four instead of five stars because of the alignment of spelling development with early guided reading levels. Thankfully, the authors denounce three-cueing, but that’s the only way students can “read” those early levels.
I gave the book four instead of five stars because of the alignment of spelling development with early guided reading levels. Thankfully, the authors denounce three-cueing, but that’s the only way students can “read” those early levels.
Kelly Sandman-Hurley
Though this book has “Dyslexia” in the title, it is for EVERY reading and spelling teacher. The author has written the perfect, easy-to-read guide to help teachers understand the complexity of English spelling.
Once we understand that English spelling is about the intersection of phonology, orthography, morphology, and etymology, we’re much better prepared to teach it to ALL students – including those with dyslexia. This is a quick read – highly recommended!
Once we understand that English spelling is about the intersection of phonology, orthography, morphology, and etymology, we’re much better prepared to teach it to ALL students – including those with dyslexia. This is a quick read – highly recommended!
Books about dyslexia
Jan Hasbrouck, Ph.D.
As both an experienced researcher and the mother of a daughter with severe dyslexia, Hasbrouck writes in a relatable and practical way. She writes about the signs of dyslexia, how to get a diagnosis, and how to teach students with dyslexia. I find myself referring to this book again and again … such an accessible read!
Kelli Sandman-Hurley
This book will tell you exactly what to do if you suspect your child or student has dyslexia. You’ll learn how to apply the IDEA (Individual with Disabilities Education Act), how to prepare for an IEP meeting, and a whole lot more. A must-own for teachers and parents of children with dyslexia!
Sally Shaywitz, M.D.
This is considered THE book on dyslexia, and it should be studied by anyone who wants to become an expert in this area. Be prepared: the book is fat and extremely comprehensive. The authors cover everything – from screening for dyslexia and possibly getting a diagnosis, to how to help people with dyslexia succeed in college and beyond.
I find the book most helpful in understanding dyslexia; while it does include several chapters about teaching readers with dyslexia, I didn’t find that section particularly useful.
I find the book most helpful in understanding dyslexia; while it does include several chapters about teaching readers with dyslexia, I didn’t find that section particularly useful.
Louisa Cook Moats & Karen E. Dakin
This guidebook from The International Dyslexia Association is a helpful guide for parents and teachers of children who are struggling to learn to read. Consider it your introduction to dyslexia. It includes signs of dyslexia, how to identify children at risk for dyslexia, how to provide expert teaching for children with dyslexia, and more.
Books about teaching students with reading difficulties
Louise Spear-Swerling, Ed.
This is in incredible treasure of a book written by a variety of experts, including Louise Spear-Swerling, Devin Kearns, Louisa Moats, and many more. Each chapter shares the research in a particular area and gives very practical activities for helping students with that challenge. Chapters include helping students with phonemic awareness and word recognition, reading longer words, spelling, fluency, vocabulary, oral language comprehension, reading comprehension, written expression, and more. My highlights are everywhere!
Louise Spear-Swerling
This is an incredibly practical book for anyone who wants to know how to plan interventions for students who need extra support.
Spear-Swerling describes the three profiles of struggling readers (Specific Word Recognition Difficulties, Specific Reading Comprehension Difficulties, and Mixed Reading Difficulties), and then shares specific intervention activities (with sample schedules so teachers can see how they might schedule the intervention session).
I recommend this for anyone who is responsible for providing reading intervention for students in grades 1-9.
Spear-Swerling describes the three profiles of struggling readers (Specific Word Recognition Difficulties, Specific Reading Comprehension Difficulties, and Mixed Reading Difficulties), and then shares specific intervention activities (with sample schedules so teachers can see how they might schedule the intervention session).
I recommend this for anyone who is responsible for providing reading intervention for students in grades 1-9.
Jeanne Wanzek, Stephanie Al Otaiba, and Kristen L. McMaster
What a treasure of a book! The authors summarize the research in all the key areas (phonemic awareness, oral language/vocabulary, phonics, fluency, and comprehension) and then share specific interventions you can provide for children who need extra support.
PLUS, they offer ways to intensify an intervention if it’s still not getting the job done.
I recommend this book for any reading teacher, and especially for reading specialists and interventionists.
PLUS, they offer ways to intensify an intervention if it’s still not getting the job done.
I recommend this book for any reading teacher, and especially for reading specialists and interventionists.
Books about comprehension
Nancy Lewis Hennessy
The first time I tried to read this book, I gave up. It was over my head.
But I just finished reading it for a class I’m taking (Fluency & Comprehension – Mount St. Joseph University) – and I love it.
Hennessy helps us understand that comprehension is big and complex – but she breaks it down by giving us a blueprint for planning comprehension instruction.
This book is for teachers of any grade level … it’s definitely worth barreling through!
But I just finished reading it for a class I’m taking (Fluency & Comprehension – Mount St. Joseph University) – and I love it.
Hennessy helps us understand that comprehension is big and complex – but she breaks it down by giving us a blueprint for planning comprehension instruction.
This book is for teachers of any grade level … it’s definitely worth barreling through!
Heidi Anne E. Mesmer
This is the clearest, most practical guide I’ve found for teaching children to read and understand complex text. Mesmer shares specific comprehension skills that students need to learn, with sample lessons and passages. This book is an absolute MUST-read for teachers of grades 2 and up.
Isabel Beck and Cheryl Sandora
This book clarified for me what exactly “close reading” is and how to teach it in K-8. I absolutely love the clarity that this book brings – with its simple procedure for planning and teaching a close reading lesson, and with the multiple (and detailed) examples throughout the book. A must-read for any teacher who wants to move students toward higher levels of comprehension!
Jane Oakhill, Kate Cain, and Carsten Elbro
This book, though short, is not light reading. If you haven’t read much about the complexity of comprehension, I recommend watching a few workshops and webinars about comprehension before tackling it. The authors examine the skills required for comprehension, how these skills develop, and how to help children who struggle with them.
David & Meredith Liben
I love this short treasure of a book which delves into the complexities of comprehension – all in a very accessible way. The authors get into the weeds with concepts like surface level, textbase, and situation model, as well as propositions, connectives, antecedents, and referents. These are all things I knew nothing about as a balanced literacy teacher, but the authors help us understand their importance, walking us through specific ways we can help help students understand what they read.
Books about fluency
Edited by Timothy Rasinski, et al
This is one of those wonderful books with chapters by many different experts. Chapters are written by experts such as S. Jay Samuels (a big one when it comes to fluency), Timothy Shanahan, Timothy Rasinski, and many more. My book is plastered with highlights and notes in the margins. A must-have if you want to learn more about teaching fluency!
Jan Hasbrouck & Deborah Glaser
I will be first in line to buy any book written by this brilliant pair! Inside Reading Fluency, Hasbrouck and Glaser define reading fluency (which isn’t as easy as you might think!), talk about how to assess it and teach it, and explain how to integrate skills in our lessons. Tip: Purchase from the exact link I share here; a smaller version of this book also exists, but you’ll want this longer version.
Timothy Rasinski
I’ve read every book I can find about reading fluency, and I find this one to be the one I go back to the most. In true Rasinski style, the ideas in this book are both backed by research and immensely practical. Learn how to do assisted reading, repeated reading, performance reading, and more. A must-have!
Melanie R. Kuhn & Lorell Levy
This book is very similar to The Fluent Reader, as it contains research-backed tips and tricks for building fluency. I especially appreciate the chapter on assessment and the tips for fluency instruction in any setting. Another great book for your library!
Books about grammar and/or syntax
Lyn Stone
Wow – there’s so much goodness in this gem from Lyn Stone. She walks readers through English grammar (with the language and lesson plans for teaching it), addresses myths about the English language, discusses punctuation, morphology and more. This is a book I’d never loan out because I’d be afraid of not getting it back!
Books about vocabulary
Tanya S. Wright
While this book didn’t add a lot to what I already know about teaching vocabulary, I’m a firm believer that you can’t own too many professional books about teaching reading. 😉
Tanya Wright is the co-author of All About Words, with Susan Neumann – another fantastic book about building vocabulary (and I need to add it to this post!). In this book, Wright offers a lot of practical advice for teaching vocabulary in K-3, with TONS of helpful research references – including research she conducted herself.
While I don’t recommend many books from Heinemann, this one is a winner.
Tanya Wright is the co-author of All About Words, with Susan Neumann – another fantastic book about building vocabulary (and I need to add it to this post!). In this book, Wright offers a lot of practical advice for teaching vocabulary in K-3, with TONS of helpful research references – including research she conducted herself.
While I don’t recommend many books from Heinemann, this one is a winner.
Books about differentiation
Nancy Young & Jan Hasbrouck, Eds.
I love this treasure of a book! It features an all-star cast of contributing authors who address how to differentiate to meet the needs of all learners – whether they are below or above grade level, or have dyslexia, dysgraphia, DLD, ADHD, or an intellectual disability. You name it – this book addresses it. It’s also beautifully laid out and a pleasure to read.
Wiley Blevins
While I strongly prefer differentiating phonics instruction from the start using small groups, I understand that many teachers give whole group phonics instruction. Blevins explains that whole class phonics instruction MUST include differentiation for all students – those who are above-level, on-level, below-level, and students who are multi-language learners. He walks through specific ways to do this in all areas of the phonics lesson.
Alison Ryan
This book is ideal for teachers who want to differentiate their Orton-Gillingham based phonics instruction. Alison walks readers through three different differentiation models, with considerations for real-world teachers who don’t teach in a perfect world. You’ll appreciate the extra chapters with considerations for early kindergarten and English language learners.
Books about morphology
Sue Scibetta Hegland
There are no words for how enlightening and interesting this book is. Hegland offers many explanations for English spellings and reveals why an understanding of morphology is so important for teachers and students. Everyone (teacher or not) should read this book!
Andrew Carstairs-McCarthy
Warning – don’t get this book unless you want to get into the weeds of English morphology. Many parts of this book were over my head, but I wanted to read it since Lyn Stone recommended it when I interviewed her for my podcast. I hope that in the future I will reread it and it will make a lot more sense. But it’s pretty deep for someone who hasn’t been trained as a linguist.
Peter Bowers
What a fascinating book! Bowers takes teachers through key understandings of morphology and includes ready-to-use lessons to help students discover the links between structure and meaning in English spelling. Get this book if you want to get started using word matrices with your students (even students as young as first grade).
Gail Portnuff Venable
I didn’t find this book to be as useful as “Beneath the Surface of Words” (recommended above), but this is a great book for word nerds who want to dive deeply into why words are spelled the way they are. The author talks briefly about changing the ways she used to teach reading (syllable types, syllable division, etc.) and replacing it by diving deep into the structure of specific words with students. Yet she acknowledges that there is no scope and sequence for this work, so I was left wondering how to apply this in the classroom.
Books about teaching writing
Charles A. MacArthur, Steve Graham & Jill Fitzgerald
If you want a super practical book that will help you improve how you teach writing, this book isn’t it. If you want a scholarly, challenging book about what the research tells us, then this is what you want. I found this book very difficult to read, but useful as I work to gain a big picture understanding of what the limited research about teaching writing actually tells us.
Steve Graham, Charles A. MacArthur, & Michael Hebert
I think of this book as The Handbook of Writing Research’s practical cousin. Indeed, many of the chapters have the same title and at least one of the same authors. Most helpful were the chapters about handwriting, spelling, and sentence combining, and evidence-based practices in teaching reading.
Leah Mermelstein
This short, to-the-point book will help you incorporate guided practice into your writing lessons so that your students are equipped to write independently. Mermelstein walks through three examples of guided practice; interactive writing, writing out loud, and a collaborative writing process. This book will be especially helpful for primary grade teachers.
Steve Graham & Karen R. Harris
This is a guidebook for teachers of students who struggle with writing – but it’s also a book that will be useful for all writing teachers, particularly those in second grade and above. The authors explain the value and purpose of strategy instruction and walk readers through an evidence-based practice called SRSD. Readers will learn how to help students plan their writing, generate content, revise, and more using helpful mnemonics.
Karen Harris, Steve Graham, Linda Mason, and Barbara Friedlander
This book will help teachers understand the SRSD (self-regulated strategy development) approach to teaching writing, which has been supported by over 20 years of research. It shares a set of steps teachers should follow when teaching students new genres, along with mnemonics and graphic organizers that will help students organize their writing. Because SRSD is not a program or curriculum, it can be a bit tricky to wrap your brain around. The authors emphasize that teachers need to be flexible in using it and that the included lessons are not for particular grades; in my opinion, teachers who want to implement SRSD will love this book but would also benefit from additional support.
Judith Hochman & Natalie Wexler
This book will change how you think about teaching writing. It focuses on specific techniques for helping students write better sentences, paragraphs, and essays – taking the mystery out of how to teach writing. This method is intended to be used in all curricular areas and not in a specific writing block.
YOU’LL LOVE THIS PRACTICAL BOOK!
Looking for an easy-to-read guide to help you reach all readers? If you teach kindergarten through third grade, this is the book for you. Get practical ideas and lesson plan templates that you can implement tomorrow!
Books about MTSS
Susan Hall
This is an older book with outdated information about phonemic awareness. However, it is still worth looking at because Hall clarifies how to use universal screening data (specifically, DIBELS) to plan small group instruction. She also shares important tips for making MTSS work in elementary schools. A criticism I have is that the book has multiple instances in which the author writes “Research says …” without a reference.
Books about how we learn
Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III & Mark A. McDaniel
I’ve read a lot of books about the science of learning, and this is one of the most readable. You’ll appreciate the interesting stories sprinkled throughout as well as the important learning principles repeated often: spaced repetition and interleaving. There’s a very interesting chapter about learning styles as well (hint: they’re not backed by research). I do wish there were more specific examples of how to apply this to teaching.
Stanislas Dehaene
Dehaene’s books are just plain tough to read, but I guess that’s what I should expect when reading a book by a cognitive neuroscientist! I found this book easier than Reading in the Brain and was able to grasp his big points after a fair amount of highlighting and underlining. Most useful were The Four Pillars of Learning: attention, active engagement, error feedback, and consolidation. This should not be your first science of reading book!
Daniel T. Willingham
In this book, Willingham uses basic science to describe the mind of a reader. I’m not gonna lie – the content is heavy at times, but Willingham has a beautiful way of organizing text with headers, bold print, and all the rest. The summaries at the end of each chapter are especially helpful. He also includes just the right amount of humor to keep you reading.
I recommend this book for someone who already has a good understanding of the science of reading but is looking for more. (Not for the beginner.)
I recommend this book for someone who already has a good understanding of the science of reading but is looking for more. (Not for the beginner.)
Yana Weinstein and Megan Sumeracki
I was surprised at how well this book about cognitive psychology kept my interest. The authors have created an easy-to-read guide for helping teachers implement research-backed strategies. They dispel common myths (such as learning styles and being right or left-brained) while emphasizing important findings. I think their classroom applications would work better for upper elementary, high school, and college, but they still gave me a lot to think about.
Daisy Christodolou
This book should be required reading by all pre-service teachers, because too many of us were taught the opposite of what it proves. The author debunks common myths in education, such as “Facts prevent understanding,” “Teacher-led instruction is passive,” and “Projects and activities are the best way to learn.” Unfortunately, I believed all these myths as a teacher (thanks, in large part, to my grad school education- ugh). The author explains why all these common myths are actually incorrect, and why students benefit from strong, teacher-led instruction that actually teaches knowledge. So many gems in this book – highly recommend.
Explicit instruction
Anita Archer & Charles Hughes
This book is extremely practical and specific, showing you exactly how to provide explicit instruction across all grade levels. This book is required reading for many college classes – for good reason! A must-own.
Zach Groshell
This little gem of a book is the perfect introduction to direct instruction, with both the rationale and the how-to. I also recommend following the author on X; he’s always sharing valuable information. This book would be a great gift for any new teacher, no matter the subject or grade level.
Kurt Engelmann
If you’re curious about capital DI (Direct Instruction) and how to implement DI programs, go no further than this book by the son of Sigfried “Zig” Engelmann. It addresses Direct Instruction methodology and shows schools how to implement it successfully. A long (and detailed!) but easy and practical read. A MUST for schools implementing DI programs such as Reading Mastery and Spelling Mastery.
Books about etymology and more (for word nerds!)
Arika Okrent
This is such a fun book, with the author’s entertaining writing style and the hilarious comics by the illustrator. It addresses questions such as “Why is COLONEL spelled that way?” “Why do we have irregular verbs?” and “Why don’t tough, through, and dough rhyme?” Perhaps it doesn’t fall under the banner of “the science of reading,” but it does help explain why we spell things the way we do.
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Amy glavin
Hi! I can’t order all of the books that you recommended- I can’t afford them all. I’m a reading specialist k-12, elementary education 1-6, and English 5-12 certified. It’s appearing that I “present” more middle school/secondary (although I taught 3rd and 1st for 20 years ) this is my 5th as a reading specialist/coach. Can you tell me your top five out of all of the above books based on what I just told you?
Anna Geiger
What are you looking to learn more about? The SOR in general, teaching word recognition, teaching comprehension, planning interventions? All of the above? 🙂
Anna Geiger
Based on what you shared on Instagram (sorry, I have no way of saving comments on there and don’t know where it went!), here are my top picks for you:
1- Word Recognition: Teaching Word Recognition
2- Comprehension: Teaching Skills for Complex Text
3- Morphology: Backpocket Words
4- Writing: The Writing Revolution (they just released a new edition)
5- All in one book about SOR: Reach All Readers (my book, which you told me you’ve already preordered)
Allison
Any thoughts on the book: “Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Days” by Siegfried Engelmann, Phyllis Haddox, and
Elaine Bruner?
Anna Geiger
I have not read it myself, but Zig Engelmann is well known for his Direct Instruction program, which was shown to be highly effective in the Project Read experiment. Based on everything I know about him and his work, I would recommend this book.
Jennifer Starkey
I love this list and the visuals are great for a visual learner like me, but do you have this as a list of just titles and authors so I could have an easy reference when I am going to a book store or checking off what I have read and what I want next. This a lot to scan through.
Anna Geiger
Hi Jennifer!
No, I don’t, because I am constantly adding to this list. 🙂 So the list would get out of date very quickly!
Cathy Munn
Thank you for sharing your list of recommended books. I am excited that I have already read/purchased most of the books in your list! There is one book in the photograph at the beginning of this page that I am interested in…”Explicit Instruction”. Could you share the author of this book? Thank you so much!
Anna Geiger
Yes, I need to get that book added here! It’s by Anita Archer and Charles Hughes.
Kelsey
What book would you recommend for a parent who just wants to understand more about how kids learn to read?
Anna Geiger
Good question, Kelsey! I think “The Reading Glitch” might be a good place to start.
Cara Schaffer
I LOVE this book list. I own a lot of books but none of them have been useful as I tackle this new journey I am on with teaching. Being a reading interventionist means that I need to be an “expert” in the teaching of struggling readers and students with dyslexia. I do believe I am good, but I still have a lot to learn. I own, and love the first two books on your list. I am now excited to get more of Wiley Blevin’s books and others. Thank you for your thoroughness!!!!
Anna Geiger
Thank you so much for your feedback, Cara – it’s always appreciated! I’m looking forward to adding more books!