Reading for Understanding: How Reading Apprenticeship Improves Disciplinary Learning in Secondary and College Classrooms

by Ruth Schoenbach, Cynthia Greenleaf, Lynn Murphy

Overview

"As elegantly practical as it is theoretically elegant. It is a guided tour, as one examines the tools of expert teachers as they engage students in a journey that is aptly dubbed Reading Apprenticeship'learning how to become a savvy, strategic reader under the tutelage of thoughtful, caring, and demanding teachers." P. David Pearson, University of California, Berkeley, and founding editor of the Handbook of Reading Research.

Reading for Understanding is a monumental achievement. It was a monumental achievement when it came out as a first edition in 1999, bringing years of rigorous reading research together in a framework for teaching that made sense in actual secondary school classrooms. Now, just thirteen years later, Schoenbach and Greenleaf have several randomized clinical trials and multiple on-going studies at their fingertips to demonstrate the effects of this approach for developing the reading and thinking of young people in our nation's middle and high school classrooms, as well as in community college classrooms. Their careful work on developing disciplinary literacy among all students represents a passion for and commitment to supporting students'and their teachers'in reading for understanding, which translates to reading for enjoyment, self-awareness, learning, and for purposeful and informed action in our society. —Elizabeth Moje, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor and Associate Dean for Research, School of Education, University of Michigan

Reading Apprenticeship has proven to be an inspiration to Renton Technical College faculty and students alike. They have learned together to view themselves as readers in transformative ways, as they embrace powerful techniques to increase reading comprehension. The ideas and strategies in Reading for Understanding anchor this new and broad-based energy around reading and an enthusiasm among our faculty to model effective reading strategies for our students. —Steve Hanson, President, Renton Technical College, Renton, Washington Reading for Understanding has the finest blend I have seen of research, strategies, and classroom vignettes to deepen teacher learning and help them connect the dots between theory and practice. —Curtis Refior, Content Area Literacy Coach, Fowlerville Community Schools, Fowlerville, Michigan

 A teacher-tested, research-based resource for dramatically improving reading skills

Published in partnership with WestEd, this significantly updated second edition of the bestselling book contains strategies for helping students in middle school through community college gain the reading independence to master subject area textbooks and other material.

• Based on the Reading Apprenticeship program, which three rigorous "gold standard" research studies have shown to be effective in raising students' reading achievement
• Presents a clear framework for improving the reading and subject area learning of all students, including English learners, students with special needs, as well as those in honors and AP courses
• Provides concrete tools for classroom use and examples from a range of classrooms
• Presents a clear how-to for teachers implementing the subject area literacies of the Common Core Standards

Reading for Understanding proves it's never too late for teachers and students to work together to boost literacy, engagement, and achievement.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780470608319
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	07/03/2012
Edition description:	2nd Updated ed.
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

THE AUTHORS

Ruth Schoenbach and Cynthia Greenleaf are co-directors of WestEd's Strategic Literacy Initiative (SLI) and the principal developers of the Reading Apprenticeship framework.

Lynn Murphy is SLI's director of materials development.

SLI conducts literacy research and manages an extensive program of professional development for teachers, administrators and literacy coaches, community college instructors, and teacher educators nationwide.

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Table of Contents

Foreword vii
P. David Pearson

Preface xi

Chapter 1 Engaged Academic Literacy for All 1

Chapter 2 The Reading Apprenticeship Framework 17

Chapter 3 The Social and Personal Dimensions: Building a Foundation for Engaged Learning 55

Chapter 4 Metacognitive Conversation: Making Thinking Visible 89

Chapter 5 Extensive Academic Reading: Extending Opportunities and Support 135

Chapter 6 Sustained Silent Reading+: Dedicating Time for Independent Reading 167

Chapter 7 The Cognitive Dimension: Assembling a Reading Toolbox 191

Chapter 8 The Knowledge-Building Dimension: Surfacing and Building Schema in the Disciplines 233

Epilogue Collaborating Beyond the Classroom 289

Assessment Appendix 293

Interests and Reading Survey 294

Student Learning Goals 299

Monitoring and Assessing Student Work 318

Curriculum-Embedded Reading Assessment (CERA) Guidance and Tools 323

Sustained Silent Reading+ (SSR+) Assessment Guidance and Tools 331

What Does a Reading Apprenticeship Classroom Look Like? 337

List of Downloadable Resources 339

WestEd and the Strategic Literacy Initiative 341

About the Authors 343

Subject Index 345

Name Index 357

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Praise for Reading for Understanding

"Reading for Understanding and the Reading Apprenticeship framework are a revelation for secondary educators. Through this framework, educators are engaged in the work of learning alongside their students and truly helping their students connect with their own metacognitive processes in a way that will benefit them far beyond their K-12 education. In this latest edition, the authors dive deeper into the concept of disciplinary literacy and inquiry which helps to build the power and agency of educators, in turn building the power and agency of students."
—Lauren Spenceley, M.Ed., Secondary English Language Arts Specialist, Arizona Department of Education

"I highly recommend this book for new and veteran teachers alike. Teacher credential programs stress the importance of teaching reading skills in all content areas but do not offer any specific ways. Reading for Understanding is chock full of a myriad of easy to implement, step by step ideas to teach reading skills to all levels of readers for all content areas."
—June Smith, Middle School Science teacher, New Haven Unified School District

"Reading for Understanding (and the Reading Apprenticeship framework) effectively complements disciplinary inquiry that centers the social aspects of learning and students' thinking, deepening students' reading and disciplinary learning."
—Chauncey Monte-Sano, Professor, University of Michigan School of Education

"An absolute must-read for educators that desire all their students to become independent readers in their disciplines. This research-based book maps out simple but powerful teaching approaches to ensure every learner engages in the reading process and evolves to independence."
—Alana Madgwick, Director of Educatalysts: Education for Change, New Zealand

"Timely, practical and relevant! This edition is replete with classroom routines from all content area classrooms and levels. A pragmatic guide, this edition dives deeper to assist teachers, professors and administrators as they uncover their habits as expert readers and learners so they can apprentice students to become more independent thinkers and learners. In this post COVID teaching and learning environment, the Reading Apprenticeship Framework is even more necessary as it meets the personal, social and emotional needs of all learners."
—Amy Keith-Wardlow, Fordson High School, Assistant Principal, former K-12 Curriculum Coordinator

"Bridging the gaps between new insights into disciplinary literacy, implementations of socioemotional learning into school curriculums, and the infusion of technology into texts and literacy, the third edition of Reading for Understanding brings new relevance and light to the Reading Apprenticeship framework, unlocking an even greater power for students and teachers."
—Ms. Kimberly Fargier, M.Ed., 6-12th grade Literacy Specialist