Shanahan on Literacy

Reading ability is often measured through oral reading fluency. These days that means having students read passages aloud and counting the numbers of words per minute read accurately. While this has value, it can lead teachers to encourage reading speed over the other elements of fluency (accuracy and prosody). It is important to remember that speed and automaticity are not the same thing, though we use speed as a proxy for the latter. This podcast reviews research that suggests another possibility for evaluating automaticity.

For years, teachers were told that teaching English grammar had no impact on reading comprehension or quality of writing. A more recent substantial body of evidence reveals the importance of sentence comprehension in comprehension. This podcast examines that evidence and makes instructional suggestions that can help increase reading achievement.

Each year, Shanahan on Literacy identifies the highest rated national, regional, and international Literacy Charities. Find out which ones you want to help -- and which might be a source of support for your students and school.

Research indicates that teaching reading at students' "reading levels" provides no advantages and may do harm when it comes to learning. However, many teachers are less worried about learning, and more concerned about the impact teaching with complex text may have on students' classroom behavior and motivation for reading. This podcast explores those concerns.

Recently, there have been claims that reading achievement is being suppressed because schools are teaching reading with excerpts and other short pieces rather than with complete books. These critics say that they want to go back to a time when reading was taught with complete books. This podcast explores those claims and reveals what research has to say on the matter.