The Structured Literacy Planner: Designing Interventions for Common Reading Difficulties, Grades 1-9

by Louise Spear-Swerling

Structured Literacy (SL) approaches are increasingly recognized as the gold standard for teaching struggling readers. This highly practical book walks educators through designing SL interventions for students with common types of reading difficulties—word reading, comprehension, or a combination of both. Louise Spear-Swerling offers tools for assessing students' reading profiles and tailoring SL to their needs. In a convenient large-size format, the volume is packed with case studies, sample lesson plans addressing early and advanced reading stages, instructional activities, and application exercises for teachers. A chapter on English language structure presents essential foundations for implementing SL effectively. The companion website features a knowledge survey about language structure (with answer key) and downloadable copies of the book's 14 reproducible forms.

Product details

Publisher: Guilford Press (March 26, 2024)
Language: English
Paperback: 252 pages
ISBN: 9781462554317

Editorial Reviews

“An outstanding, well-written, much-needed guide to implementation of SL practices in grades K–9. This book offers exceptional guidance about how to teach all related components of instruction; it tightly links lesson frameworks, specific goals and activities, and feedback procedures to individual student profiles. The author's unequaled knowledge of research-based practices, the content of instruction, and the realities of student variation makes this book a 'must' for anyone who teaches reading, spelling, writing, and language comprehension.”

—Louisa C. Moats, EdD, codeveloper, LETRS professional development program; former officer, International Dyslexia Association

“The Structured Literacy Planner brings to life the practices associated with SL. Spear-Swerling expertly integrates reading research with the craft knowledge necessary to provide well-informed, systematic guidance for teachers. Numerous case studies are included to illustrate real-world applications. The applied exercises at the end of each chapter provide the type of practice needed to develop skilled SL practitioners. As a text, the book can be used by teacher educators or professional development providers interested in providing practical, case-based training in SL.”

—Kristin L. Sayeski, PhD, Department of Communication Sciences and Special Education, University of Georgia

About the Author

Louise Spear-Swerling, PhD, is Professor Emerita in the Department of Special Education at Southern Connecticut State University. She helped prepare both general and special educators to teach reading using Structured Literacy approaches for many years, including supervising a public school tutoring program that paired teacher candidates with struggling readers. Her research interests include children's reading development, reading difficulties, and the knowledge and skills needed to teach reading effectively, especially to struggling and at-risk readers. She has presented and published widely on these topics. Dr. Spear-Swerling is author or editor of several books and is an editorial board member for several journals, including Annals of Dyslexia, Teaching Exceptional Children, and Reading Psychology. She consults often for K–12 school districts, mostly on students with severe or persistent literacy difficulties and ways to improve their achievement.

Louise Spear-Swerling, PhD, is Professor Emerita in the Department of Special Education at Southern Connecticut State University. She helped prepare both general and special educators to teach reading using Structured Literacy approaches for many years, including supervising a public school tutoring program that paired teacher candidates with struggling readers. Her research interests include children's reading development, reading difficulties, and the knowledge and skills needed to teach reading effectively, especially to struggling and at-risk readers. She has presented and published widely on these topics. Dr. Spear-Swerling is author or editor of several books and is an editorial board member for several journals, including Annals of Dyslexia, Teaching Exceptional Children, and Reading Psychology. She consults often for K–12 school districts, mostly on students with severe or persistent literacy difficulties and ways to improve their achievement.

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