Closing the Literacy Gap

Thomas G. Gunning, EdD, is Professor Emeritus of Reading at Southern Connecticut State University, where he served as Director of the Reading Clinic. Dr. Gunning has taught at all levels and has been a reading specialist and consultant in inner-city schools in Philadelphia and Hartford. He is the author of more than a dozen books on literacy and several intervention programs for struggling readers. Dr. Gunning has conducted research in foundational skills, decoding strategies, readability, and comprehension. He has a special interest in working with underperforming readers, especially those who have significant difficulty learning foundational skills.

"Literacy is an issue of equity. Students who are less proficient in reading and writing are likely to be disadvantaged for life in many important areas. This book presents an eminently readable and practical approach to closing the literacy gap, from an author who knows his stuff. Gunning has spent his career working with underperforming schools and struggling readers. He offers actionable approaches and resources that can make a true difference in the literacy lives of all students—especially those about whom we worry most.”--Timothy Rasinski, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Literacy Education, Kent State University"This book is a great tool that should be a go-to for teachers, curriculum coaches, and administrators. Gunning provides a roadmap for creating an equitable reading program that meets students where they are and gives them the best opportunity to grow in their reading. I definitely will be returning to, highlighting, and sticky-noting this book!"--Kari Richards, MEd, fifth-grade teacher, Carmel Elementary School, Clarksville, Tennessee"This book is chock-full of valuable resources for classroom teachers, reading specialists, and teacher educators who want to train and motivate prospective literacy interventionists. Gunning presents a variety of free and commercial options for teaching phonics, comprehension, writing, and fluency. Whether novice or experienced, digitally savvy or technologically challenged, teachers will uncover 'just-right' strategies, texts, and technology resources to address the needs of particular students. Reading this book is like having the author right there in the room with you to share his deliberate, strategic, and contextualized approach to accelerating students' learning."--Karen C. Waters, EdD, College of Education, Sacred Heart University-A 'must-have' for teachers, paraeducators, administrators, psychologists, and other school personnel….This book provides readers with recent educational research, evidence-based programs, and additional resources that are instrumental in building the foundation for a successful literacy program that meets each student at their individual level, no matter their background.--NASP Communiqué, 11/1/2023ƒƒThe book's 13 chapters are written in a reader-friendly style that allows one to engage with the narrative and interact with foundational strategies and resources for closing the gap, strategies for engaging students in independent reading and writing, and ways to support students most affected by the literacy gap.--School Administrator, 10/1/2024

• 1. Catching Up2. Building Foundational Skills to Accelerate Progress3. Instruction in Foundational Skills and Understandings4. Boosting Students’ Basic Reading Levels5. Using Extensive Independent Reading to Accelerate Literacy6. Using the Magic of Periodicals to Accelerate Progress7. Providing Extra Time8. Using Tutoring to Accelerate Progress9. Using Comprehension Strategies and Graphic Organizers to Accelerate and Deepen Learning10. Accelerating Vocabulary Growth11. Using Writing to Close the Gap12. Helping Those Most Affected by the Literacy Gap13. Taking Steps to Accelerate Literacy Progress and Close the GapReferencesChildren’s LiteratureIndex