Reading for Academic Success: Powerful Strategies for Struggling, Average, and Advanced Readers, Grades 7-12

"Not just for reading teachers, this book is ideal for all secondary content areas. Each chapter includes a wealth of resources such as powerful reading strategies, vivid classroom examples, and "Strategies for Struggling Readers" sections to help close the achievement gap between proficient and at-risk students"
―Rachel Billmeyer, Educational Consultant
Author, Capturing ALL of the Reader Through the Reading Assessment System

"The authors bring together the latest research on many current topics and offer practical strategies that can be readily implemented in the classroom. Practitioners will be thrilled with the clarity and the significance of the examples presented."
―Anne Grall Reichel
North Cook Intermediate Service Center
Des Plaines, IL

"Many secondary teachers do not know how to help students improve their reading skills. This book will definitely help!"
―Margo Marvin, Director of Curriculum and Technology
Windsor Locks Public Schools, CT

"This is the best synthesis of reading strategies that I′ve seen! I will definitely
use this book."
―Jeanelle Bland, Professor of Education
Eastern Connecticut State University

Empower your students with A+ reading skills and watch achievement soar!

Students′ mastery of subject matter rests heavily upon their ability to read proficiently. Likewise, a teacher′s capacity to cover all the material in a course and cultivate successful learners depends largely on the students′ reading skills, as these skills are inextricably linked to problem solving, critical thinking, writing, researching, organizing ideas, reasoning, and creativity.

Through specific examples, real-life scenarios, diagrams, and detailed guidelines, this book vividly conveys the most fundamental and effective means to boost student learning and teacher performance. The wealth of easy-to-use strategies and the authors′ warm and encouraging tone further enhance the easy integration of the valuable information provided.

Key features include:

• Exploration of the seven core reading challenges―and corresponding strategies for success
• Tips for tailoring each strategy to distinct disciplines, from science and mathematics to English and social studies
• A "Strategies for Struggling Readers" section in each chapter that highlights ways to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities and other special needs
• Practical applications that implement and reinforce research findings, including the five common characteristics of successful readers

Expressly designed for the secondary teacher, the down-to-earth approach and proven methods outlined can have a significant and far-reaching positive impact in any school, turning even average or below-average students into high-achieving, thoughtful readers.

Richard W. Strong was vice president of Silver Strong & Associates and Thoughtful Education Press. A former teacher on the elementary and secondary levels, he served as a trainer/consultant to hundreds of school districts, teacher and professional organizations, and state departments of education. In addition, he was a leader in the movement for authentic assessment. As cofounder of the Institute for Community and Difference, Richard studied democratic teaching practices in public and private schools for more than ten years. A former district-level coordinator for gifted and talented education, Richard wrote and developed numerous books and products for educators.

Harvey F. Silver, president of Silver Strong & Associates and Thoughtful Education Press, was named one of the 100 most influential teachers in the country. He has conducted numerous workshops for school districts and state education departments throughout the United States. He was the principal consultant for the Georgia Critical Thinking Skills Program and the Kentucky Thoughtful Education Teacher Leadership Program. Silver is the author of several educational bestsellers, including So Each May Learn: Integrating Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences and Teaching Styles and Strategies, both published by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Design. With Richard Strong, Silver developed The Thoughtful Classroom―a renowned professional development program based on the commitment to “make students as important as standards.”


Matthew J. Perini, director of publishing at Silver Strong & Associates, has authored curriculum guides, articles, and research studies on a wide range of topics, including learning styles, multiple intelligences, and effective teaching practices. Strong, Silver, and Perini have recently collaborated on Discovering Nonfiction: 25 Powerful Teaching Strategies, Grades 2-6; So Each May Learn: Integrating Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences; and Teaching What Matters Most: Standards and Strat­egies for Raising Student Achievement.

Gregory M. Tuculescu is a writer, editor, and researcher for Silver Strong & Associates who has coauthored several books in The Teaching Strategies Library.He has also authored several curriculum guides, including A Thinker’s Guide to Ancient Egypt.