Know Better, Do Better: Teaching the Foundations So Every Child Can Read

The Libens have spent decades working to transform reading instruction; first as teachers, then researchers and school leaders, most recently in supporting the quality of instructional materials. They've been on the forefront of the reading wars since 1994, when their school's first cohort of students failed the NYC end of year reading assessment. The Libens were faced with the question, how could a school with plenty of resources and tons of support for social and emotional learning fail so spectacularly at teaching children how to read? The answers that allowed us to rise from the bottom performing school are collected here in this book. The Libens have poured through the research, pedagogical movements, and deeply entrenched classroom myths to find the literacy practices and instructional materials that actually improve student learning outcomes. Through their work, their school had its reading scores rise to the highest of any non-gifted school in Harlem. When educators know better, they can do better. This book is written for anyone starting their own journey to learn about the research that undergirds foundational reading and discover practical ways to make sure your students learn to read. Read more