Mark Weakland - How to Prevent Reading Difficulties, Grades PreK-3: Proactive Practices for Teaching Young Children to Read

This book is so much more than a few great strategies to try on. Rather, it explains the science of how our reading brains work, so that we acknowledge all that the brain does when making sense of text. How to Prevent Reading Difficulties can benefit both new and seasoned practitioners in two ways: First, these powerful strategies detail specific yet practical activities, routines, and techniques that teachers can use to teach all children the basics of reading, and second, because these practices focus on establishing a strong foundation, they also help teachers to prevent reading difficulties through strong Tier 1 instruction.

Hilda Martinez

NBCT, RTI Coordinator

2020 San Diego County Teacher of the Year

Master teacher Mark Weakland serves up a smorgasbord of evidence-based best teaching practices in How to Prevent Reading Difficulties, Grades PreK3, presented with the science of reading in ways you will understand. This smart and fun-to-read teaching guide gives you the bread, butter, cheese, meat and potato routines for ensuring that virtually all students learn to read, write, and spell.

J. Richard Gentry

Researcher, Author, and Educational Consultant

Co-author, Brain Words: How the Science of Reading Informs Teaching

Mobile, AL

I will be suggesting this title to all of my preservice and early career teachers who are searching for a comprehensive guide to the science of reading and an understanding of how the reading brain works. Not only does Mark Weakland provide a thorough explanation of literacy development and skills, he also helps us understand reading difficulties, how to support students who struggle, and the related research basis. With practical suggestions and engaging vignettes, Mark Weakland helps inform teachers on best practices to support all students.

Molly Ness

Associate Professor at Fordham University

Author, Every Minute Matters

New York, NY

From brain research to building better readers, Mark Weaklands How to Prevent Reading Difficulties, Grades PreK3Proactive Practices for Teaching Young Children to Read provides a very readable and actionable approach to overcoming reading difficulties in young children. This is definitely a book worth reading and having on hand as a guide for developing reading instruction that works.

Timothy Rasinski

Professor of Literacy Education, Kent State University

Rebecca Tolle and Burton W. Gorman Chair in Educational Leadership

Stow, OH

In How to Prevent Reading Difficulties, Grades PreK3, Mark Weakland begins by taking you on a tour of the inner workings of the reading brain. With this landscape as your backdrop, he showcases five highly effective teaching techniques to weave into your repertoire. The chapters that follow offer a helpful collection of proactive practices and activities that will boost readers understanding of the dynamic interplay among meaning, sounds, and spelling.

Maria Walther

Traveling Teacher, Literacy Consultant

Author, The Ramped-Up Read Aloud

Aurora, IL

In How to Prevent Reading Difficulties, Grades PreK3: Proactive Practices for Teaching Young Children to Read, Mark Weakland offers a wealth of practical instructional activities and routines to maximize student learning in phonological awareness, phonics, spelling, vocabulary, comprehension, and more. This resource is grounded in the latest research drawn from multiple sciences examining how children learn to read. Its a valuable addition to any teachers bookshelf.