Reading Instruction: The Two Keys

by Matthew Davis, Ph.D., Reading Director, Core Knowledge Foundation

In the last twenty-five years, a great deal has been learned about how to teach reading effectively, but much of what has been learned by scientific researchers has not found its way into practice. Dr. Matthew Davis, Director of Reading at the Core Knowledge Foundation, outlines in this small, accessible, jargon-free gem of a book how to set up a reading program to teach the two keys to reading success—decoding skills and the essential core knowledge necessary for reading comprehension. A must-read work for reading instructors and curriculum planners.

“This valuable book explains what every reading teacher needs to know—that reading has two keys and that the two are very different. The book offers straight-shooting advice on existing phonics programs and basals. It describes exactly how currently available books can be used to combine reading instruction with fascinating knowledge to make the most of school time and achieve fast results. The book is reliable, deeply researched, and highly practical.”
—E. D. Hirsch, Jr.

Paperback

ISBN: 978-1-933486-03-1

Table of Contents

• Introduction . . . . . 1
• Chapter 1: The Keys to Reading . . . . . 3
• Chapter 2: Decoding . . . . . 7
  • Basal Programs . . . . . 8
  • A Sound-to-Letter Approach . . . . . 9
  • Other Phonics and Phonemic Awareness Programs . . . . . 11
  • Assessment . . . . . 12
  • Professional Development . . . . . 13
  • Suggestions for Additional Reading . . . . . 14
• Chapter 3: Language Comprehension . . . . . 15
  • How to Construct Domains . . . . . 24
  • What About Strategies? . . . . . 27
  • Suggestions for Additional Reading . . . . . 28
• Chapter 4: Suggested Readings for Domains . . . . . 29
  • Preschool . . . . . 30
  • Kindergarten . . . . . 33
  • Grade 1 . . . . . 36
  • Grade 2 . . . . . 40
  • Grade 3 . . . . . 43
  • Grade 4 . . . . . 46
  • Grade 5 . . . . . 50
  • Grade 6 . . . . . 53