Raising Reading Achievement in Middle and High Schools

Elaine K. McEwan is an educational consultant with The McEwan-Adkins Group, offering professional development for educators to assist them in meeting the challenges of literacy learning in Grades Pre K-6. A former teacher, librarian, principal, and assistant superintendent for instruction in several suburban Chicago school districts, Elaine is the award-winning and best-selling author of more than three dozen books for educators. Her Corwin Press titles include Raising Reading Achievement in Middle and High Schools: Five Simple-to-Follow Strategies for Principals, Second Edition (2006), Seven Strategies of Highly Effective Readers: Using Cognitive Research to Boost K-8 Achievement (2004), Ten Traits of Highly Effective Principals: From Good to Great Performance (2003), Making Sense of Research: What’s Good, What’s Not, and How to Tell the Difference (2003), Seven Steps to Effective Instructional Leadership, Second Edition (2003), Teach Them ALL to Read: Catching the Kids Who Fall through the Cracks (2002), and Ten Traits of Highly Effective Teachers: How to Hire, Mentor, and Coach Successful Teachers (2001). McEwan was honored by the Illinois Principals Association as an outstanding instructional leader, by the Illinois State Board of Education with an Award of Excellence in the Those Who Excel Program, and by the National Association of Elementary School Principals as the National Distinguished Principal from Illinois for 1991. She received her undergraduate degree in education from Wheaton College and advanced degrees in library science (MA) and educational administration (EdD) from Northern Illinois University.

"Makes a distinct contribution to the field and should be mandatory reading for each and every building principal for every middle, junior high, and high school in the United States."

• List of Teaching for Learning TipsPrefaceA Change in FocusThe Goals of This BookWho This Book Is ForWhat This Book Is NotOverview of the ContentsA New FeatureThe ChallengeAcknowledgmentsAbout the Author1. Reading Achievement: Where Do We Stand?Raising Achievement ExpectationsThe State of Reading Achievement in the NationThe Response of EducatorsThe State of Reading Achievement in the StatesRoadblocks to Raising Achievement in Middle and High SchoolsThe Responsibility of School LeadersReflection and Discussion Questions2. Focus on Changing What You Can ChangeChange the Educational ParadigmChange How Goals Are SetChange How Teachers TeachChange the Curriculum and How It Is ChosenChange the Alignment of the CurriculumChange the Amount of Time Allocated to Reading InstructionChange Where Strategic Reading Instruction Is ProvidedChange How Learning Is AssessedChange Expectations for StudentsChange How Professional Development Is ProvidedReflection and Discussion Questions3. Teach the Students Who Can’t Read How to ReadHow Children Learn to Read: A Short LessonFailing to LearnPrograms to Remediate Struggling Secondary StudentsFind the Students in Special Education Who Can’t Read and Teach Them to ReadReflection and Discussion Questions4. Teach Every Student How to Read to LearnReading to Learn and Cognitive StrategiesThe Strategic TeacherHow to Teach Cognitive StrategiesReading to Learn and Vocabulary DevelopmentReading to Learn and Knowledge AcquisitionHow We Can Engage More Students in Reading to LearnCognitive Strategy Instruction at Alief Hastings High SchoolReflection and Discussion Questions5. Motivate Every Student to Read in the ZoneThe Value of Reading a LotReading in the ZoneThe Importance of Reading Challenging Fiction and NonfictionThe Importance of AccountabilityMotivating Students to Read a LotEngaging Students in ReadingSkills to Read With Confidence and SuccessReflection and Discussion Questions6. Create a Reading Culture in Your SchoolPay Attention to the Basic Beliefs and Core Values of StakeholdersDetermine What Needs to Be ChangedIdentify the Roadblocks to ChangeHire a Strong (Assertive) Instructional LeaderHold Everyone AccountableMake a PlanDon’t Forget the Parents and KidsAssess for LearningPress Academically and Be Instructionally TenaciousGetting the Job Done at Griffin Middle SchoolReflection and Discussion QuestionsResource A. Assessment ToolsResource A.1: Prereading Assessment FormResource A.2: Prereading Assessment KeyResource A.3: Postreading Assessment FormResource A.4: Postreading Assessment KeyResource B. Programs for Learning to Read in Secondary SchoolBenchmark ProgramCorrective ReadingHigher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)Language!®Lindamood-Bell Learning ProcessesReading Is FAMEReasoning and WritingREWARDS (Reading Excellence: Word Attack and Rate Development Strategies)The Spalding MethodSpelling Through MorphographsResource C. Creating a Strong Reading Culture: A Process ExerciseDescriptionApplicationTime RequiredMaterialsAdministration DirectionsReferencesIndex