Reading Above the Fray: The Art and Science of Teaching Foundational Skills

Engaging text, highly researched (including very current studies) and filled with practical classroom tips. Highly recommended for school leaders and educators implementing science of reading practice.

It's rare to find a professional book that can offer easy access points to those new to teaching early literacy as well as nuanced, research-based insights to those who have experience with decoding instruction. This treasure of a text hits all the marks. It is written in clear terms, organized in digestible sections, and enhanced by helpful tables and graphics.Dr. Lindsey's ability to distill scads of studies into economical, practitioner-friendly prose is remarkable, and her upbeat tone makes each chapter a delight to read. Most importantly, the book answers an incredible range of questions that are in the minds of every teacher and teacher-educator such as: How quickly can kindergartners learn the alphabet? How much time should be devoted to foundational skills every day? How can I use decodable texts in my small group reading instruction? You will find practical explanations and examples to answer these queries and many more.This is exactly what the world of early literacy needs, and it's arrived at exactly the right moment!

Stop and buy this book!I am a Literacy Coach and teacher of 28 years and you will get your money’s worth reading Reading Above the Fray.This book does a fabulous job breaking down the theory and many of the practical applications that are critical to ensuring that readers are taught and understand all of the components of reading. And, I love that it doesn’t waste time on the useless “Reading Wars” discussion, but focuses on things we can do to help children become strategic readers quickly and comprehensively.The chapters are well organized and the information is shared in simple and easy to follow format. You will be able to use what you are learning as you read.That being said, there are areas that you might want to learn more about once you finish Reading Above the Fray. Speech to print is the equivalent of a self-taught LETRS training for those who are very self-motivated. The Comprehension Blueprint, The Writing Rope, and The Writing Revolution are great add-one to Reading Above the Fray, as well as Shifting the Balance and Structured Literacy.

This is a great overview and is really easy to read. Great resource recommendations and good content.

I'm finishing up my first year of teaching second grade--and wish i had this book at the start of the year because it is so useful. It contains just the right balance of smart strategies and research-based rationales for using them. The author clearly describes why foundational skills (such as phonemic awareness and sound-spelling knowledge) are so important in developing decoding skills. But she doesn't stop there. She makes it very clear that children gain those skills for a reason--to become passionate, proficient readers who view reading as a meaning making process. Love this book!