Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills

Keep up with the latest on the highly respected multisensory teaching approach to literacy with this new fourth edition, a complete update of the bestselling textbook adopted in colleges and universities across the country. The most comprehensive text available on multisensory teaching, this book prepares today's educators to use specific evidence-based approaches that improve struggling students' language skills and academic outcomes in elementary through high school.

Educators will get rich background information on the systems and structures of the English language, plus a deep dive into the what and how of Structured Literacy Instruction. They'll also find practical strategies and guidelines on all aspects of language and literacy instruction, including planning effective lessons, connecting research with practice, conducting and interpreting assessment, understanding the emotional side of learning disabilities, and more. An essential reference and professional development resource to keep and use for years to come, this book gets educators ready to be thoughtful, skilled, and compassionate teachers of reading and language arts.

WHAT’S NEW:

• New chapters on pre-kindergarten literacy, executive function, and math learning disabilities
• Content now aligns with the 2018 IDA Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading and prepares students for the IDA certification exam
• Updated with the latest research in the field
• New insights and guidance on technology woven throughout the book
• Online companion materials and resources for many chapters
• More student-friendly features (see below)

SELECTED TOPICS COVERED: structured literacy instruction * oral language development * pre-k literacy * alphabet knowledge * phonemic awareness * decoding * spelling * handwriting * fluency * vocabulary instruction * reading comprehension * composition * assessment * executive function * math learning disabilities * effective learning environments * lesson planning * instruction for English language learners * instruction for older students and high-functioning adults

STUDENT-FRIENDLY FEATURES: Chapters now include learning objectives, an end-of-chapter Knowledge and Skill Assessment, reflection questions interspersed throughout, and new vignettes and case studies. The online companion materials feature sample lesson plans, answer keys, and other resources for further reading and reference.

Judith R. Birsh, Ed.D., Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT), Qualified Instructor (QI). Dr. Birsh's enduring belief that well-prepared, informed teachers are the major influence on effective instruction in the field of reading and dyslexia had its beginning in 1960, when she met her first student who, although 18 years old, read poorly. The quest to find answers to this puzzle led her to a master's degree in remedial reading and a doctorate in reading and language at Teachers College, Columbia University. After training with Aylett R. Cox in Dallas, Texas, she became a Certified Academic Language Therapist and Qualified Instructor, founding and directing the Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills courses at Teachers College in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching, Program in Learning Disabilities. Since her retirement in 2000, Dr. Birsh has maintained her commitment to teacher preparation by editing the first three editions of Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills, and co-editing the fourth edition with Suzanne Carreker, Ph.D. Dr. Birsh has given professional development workshops, consulted with private and public schools, written articles, and worked with students with dyslexia. In 2008, she received the Luke Waites Academic Language Therapy Association Award of Service and the Margaret Byrd Rawson Lifetime Achievement Award from The International Dyslexia Association.

Suzanne Carreker, Ph.D., CALT-QI, works at the Neuhaus Education Center, a nonprofit organization in Houston, Texas, that has offered professional development in evidence-based reading methods to more than 60,000 teachers since its inception in 1980. Dr. Carreker, a past president of The Houston Branch of The International Dyslexia Association (HBIDA) and a current vice president of the national IDA board, is a frequent speaker at regional and national conferences and has authored a number of multisensory curricula and journal articles. She was the recipient of the 2009 HBIDA Nancy LaFevers Community Service Award for her contributions to students with dyslexia and other related learning differences in the Houston community.

Louisa Cook Moats, Ed.D., has published many book chapters, journal articles, and policy papers on reading instruction. Formerly Project Director at the District of Columbia Public Schools site of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Early Interventions Project, Dr. Moats is now an independent consultant and writer who specializes in the professional development of teachers of reading and writing. Dr. Moats spent the 1996-1997 school year as a visiting scholar at the Sacramento County Office of Education, where she authored and presented leadership training materials on early reading for the California State Board of Education. These materials are now required content in all of the professional development programs conducted under Assembly Bill 1086 in California. Dr. Moats received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wellesley College, her Master of Arts degree from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, and her doctorate of education in reading and human development from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She worked as a teacher, neuropsychology technician, and specialist in learning disorders prior to her doctoral training. She was a licensed psychologist in private practice for 15 years in Vermont and a graduate instructor both at Harvard and at St. Michael's College in Winooski, Vermont, where she developed innovative courses for teachers linking the disciplines of linguistics and reading education. Specializing in reading development, reading disorders, spelling, and written language, she has written and lectured widely throughout the United States and abroad. She has taught courses in teacher education at the Greenwood Institute in Putney, Vermont, and at Simmons College in Boston. Her publications include this text's companion workbook, Speech to Print Workbook: Language Exercises for Teachers (Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., 2003); journal articles; book chapters; a classroom basal spelling program; a book titled Spelling: Development, Disability, and Instruction (York Press, 1995); and a book for parents, co-authored with Susan L. Hall, Straight Talk About Reading: How Parents Can Make a Difference in the Early Years (Contemporary Books, 1999).