Differentiating for Success: How To Build Literacy Instruction for All Students

Witherell and McMackin endorse differentiated instruction, or the idea that effective learning happens when educators tailor their methods to meet students' needs. Regarding developing reading skills in third through fifth graders, the authors begin with several guiding questions: "How do we make [differentiated instruction] possible? How do we make it realistic? Sustainable? How do we ensure that our students are actually thinking as they accomplish their work?" Realizing that most teachers don't have a colleague with whom to collaborate in the classroom, the authors provide differentiated lessons that a single teacher could implement. The 16 chapters, which tackle various literacy skills, each contain two lessons: one based on a narrative text and the other on an informational text. Preceding each lesson is an explanation of the skill, a summary of the relevant research, and a description of how the skill progresses as students go from third to fifth grade. Both lessons suggest ways that teachers can model learning and give examples of guided practice, along with differentiation on three levels. Charts and organizers are included in each chapter. The lessons cover essential skills and are presented in clear and concise terms. This well-organized, thoroughly researched book is superb.