Schools That Work: Where All Children Read and Write, 2nd edition

Author: Allington, R.L., Cunningham, P.M.
Publisher: Allyn & Bacon
Publication Date: 2002
Available for purchase online at: http://www.ablongman.com/catalog/academic/product/0,1144,080133246X,00.html

Abstract (written by WestEd)

The authors start by identifying what doesn't work in schools to effectively teach children to read and write. They go on to describe stories of schools where instructional strategies really work and where all students become readers and writers. The most promising way to reach this important goal, according to these authors, is through a whole-school reform effort that focuses on advancing teachers' knowledge and skills. Structuring time for instruction and developing and using meaningful assessments are discussed at length, as they are important components of this process to increase the reading and writing abilities of students. The book ends with a call for effective professional development in instructional strategies and family involvement to support teachers in the classroom.

The book covers a number of general instructional practices that have been shown to be effective; some strategies that the authors believe to be less (or not at all) effective, such as retention and tracking, are also discussed. Specific comprehensive school reform programs such as Accelerated Schools, Success For All, Comer's School Power, and the Coalition of Essential Schools are briefly described, as is Reading Recovery (an intensive tutorial program) and various approaches for English learners and special education students.