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Reading Revealed: 50 Expert Teachers Share What They Do and Why They Do It~ Sneak Peek!

Diane Stephens, Jerome C. Harste, and Jean Anne Clyde joined forces, alongside a nifty fifty expert teachers, to write Reading Revealed: 50 Expert Teachers Share What They Do and Why They Do ItIn the Introduction, Diane Stephens states, This book is based on the premise that no matter how long we have been teaching, no matter how good we are as teachers, we can always do a better job tomorrow than we did today (p.11). So true! As a Reading Specialist and Literacy Coach, I am always seeking manageable ways to continue learning, growing and improving as an educator in order to support student growth in all areas of literacy. 
If you were to peek into the Table of Contents, you'd notice four parts, Part I: Knowing Reading, Part II: Knowing Readers, Part III: Engaging Readers, and Part IV: Knowing the Language to Usewhich include thirty eight *engagements*, or instruction and assessment actions to engage students in a variety of ways, such as Reading Interviews, Book Clubs, Strategy Sharing, Written Conversations, Class Journals, and more.
Each *engagement* provides a Why? (advantages), Who? (those who may benefit), How? (materials needed & step-by-step procedures), Closure/Stepping Back (conclusion), and How's It Going? Informal Assessment section to support educators in diving deeper into its implementation. Examples of student work, classroom vignettes, photographs, and more are also displayed throughout the pages. The *engagements* can be implemented straightaway because they are well organized and explicitly explained. 
Furthermore, the book provides readers with an online, password-protected site containing videos and downloadable resources that accompany the *engagements*. Below are images of what the site has to offer. 


For this post, I also wanted to highlight some quotes and tips taken directly from the book to give you better insight into Reading Revealed: 50 Expert Teachers Share What They Do and Why They Do It.
  • The authors show the deep, intentional thinking that all students can engage in when their teachers understand that comprehension is the end-all and be-all of reading, and when they understand that reading must always make sense and sound like language (or it's not reading) (p.9).
  • In the hands of expert, responsive teachers who have fingertip access to classroom and school libraries brimming with beautiful books that kids want to read- and who know reading, know their students, and know how to engage them- all children will discover the joy and power of reading (p.10).



  • As you learn, share what you know and, as you bring the ideas of others into your classrooms, make your ideas become parts of other people's classrooms (p.18).
  • Teachers who are kidwatchers understand their students as people, which makes it possible to plan more responsively, see more clearly, and appreciate students in ways that percentages and letter grades simply don't allow (p.30).
  • It would be hard for students to learn that reading is about meaning-making if, in school, reading is about getting the words right (p.82).
  • Independent reading works when we create a context in which the focus is on meaning, students are reading books they want to read and with which they feel successful, and students consider reading to be pleasurable (p.84).
  • As students become more experienced in talking about books, you can help them develop and awareness of the power of conversation by asking, "What did you learn about reading and what readers do from talking about books?" (p.135).
  • We strongly believe that teachers need to know kids and get kids engaged with books- two responsibilities that work hand-in-hand (p.224). 
  • We learn the most about kids when they are engaged (p.224).
  • No matter the size of the group, we need to get to know our students and identify their strengths and needs (p.224).
Thanks for taking a sneak peek. Leave a thoughtful comment for a chance to win a copy of the book for yourself!  :)




10 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for providing such a detailed sneak peek! I have been trying to browse the inside of this book since you posted on IG! I love how this book focuses on the heart and interests of the reader and provides engaging, meaningful strategies to further increase the interest in readers! - Christiana Hertzog

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    1. Thanks for commenting! You've been entered in the giveaway! :)

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    2. You are the lucky winner! I will contact you for your information. Enjoy the book! :)

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  2. I am so interested to read this book. Collaborating is one of my favorite types of professional development. So many great teachers have wonderful ideas, and this is a great way to share some of those tips and ideas

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    1. Thanks for commenting! You've been entered in the giveaway! :)

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  3. Looks great! I'd love to win a copy for my summer PD reading!

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    1. Thanks for commenting! You've been entered in the giveaway! :)

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  4. Christiana Hertzog is the lucky winner! Her name was picked out a hat by a colleague. Thanks to all for commenting to be entered in the giveaway! :)

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  5. Wow! If this is a sneak peek...I can only imagine how amazing the entire book is!! Your writing, as always, provides so much thoughtful consideration to teachers- along with the context and real-life experience we need to make it relatable to our own classrooms. As always, your writing inspires me and helps me grow as an educator. And those ‘Closing Thoughts’...wow! That’s exactly what we, as educators, need to see/hear/live right now! Thanks for such an amazing post!

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    1. Aww, thanks, friend! I agree about the closing thoughts. We help change lives. #impactful

      Looking forward to hanging with you this summer! :)

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