Closing the Literacy Gap: Accelerating the Progress of Underperforming Students

Packed with practical tools, Closing the Literacy Gap provides K–6 educators with a research-based framework for accelerating the reading and writing growth of underperforming students.

Strategies and resources are included for building foundational skills, comprehension, and vocabulary; engaging students with independent reading and periodicals; developing writing; and implementing tutoring and other extra supports. The book gives special attention to helping those most affected by the literacy gap—Black and Latinx students, students living in poverty, and students with reading disabilities. It describes dozens of high-quality intervention programs, assessments, activities, and materials, many of which can be accessed for free at the companion website. Reproducible forms and handouts can be downloaded.

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Table of Contents

10. Accelerating Vocabulary Growth

11. Using Writing to Close the Gap

12. Helping Those Most Affected by the Literacy Gap

13. Taking Steps to Accelerate Literacy Progress and Close the Gap

References

Children’s Literature

Index

"Literacy is an issue of equity. Students who are less proficient in reading and writing are likely to be disadvantaged for life in many important areas. This book presents an eminently readable and practical approach to closing the literacy gap, from an author who knows his stuff. Gunning has spent his career working with underperforming schools and struggling readers. He offers actionable approaches and resources that can make a true difference in the literacy lives of all students—especially those about whom we worry most."
- Timothy Rasinski, PhD, Professor of Literacy Education

"This book is chock-full of valuable resources for classroom teachers, reading specialists, and teacher educators who want to train and motivate prospective literacy interventionists. Gunning presents a variety of free and commercial options for teaching phonics, comprehension, writing, and fluency. Whether novice or experienced, digitally savvy or technologically challenged, teachers will uncover 'just-right' strategies, texts, and technology resources to address the needs of particular students. Reading this book is like having the author right there in the room with you to share his deliberate, strategic, and contextualized approach to accelerating students' learning."
- Karen C. Waters, EdD, College of Education, Sacred Heart University