Reading About Reading

It might sound funny, but I spend a lot of time reading about reading. I’ve always been curious about how kids learn, and I love finding new ways to help struggling readers succeed. Here are some of the books that have shaped the way I think about teaching reading, and why I recommend them to parents, teachers, and anyone who has a child in their life. Just so you know, I don’t earn anything from sharing these books. I recommend them simply because they’ve made a big difference for me, and I think they can help you too!

💡 Dyslexic Advantage

When I first read Dyslexic Advantage back in 2015, it completely changed how I saw dyslexia. I learned that dyslexia isn’t a vision problem or a sign of low intelligence; it’s an unexpected difficulty with reading caused by differences in phonological processing. The book also showed me that many people with dyslexia have remarkable strengths in other areas. If you’ve ever wondered what dyslexia really is or isn’t, this book will really help you understand.

If you are thinking you don’t know someone who has dyslexia, guess again! Dyslexia affects 20 percent of the population and represents 80–90 percent of all those with learning disabilities.

I now think of dyslexia as simply a different way the brain works. People with dyslexia often have incredible strengths in creativity, problem-solving, and big-picture thinking, which is why so many highly successful people have dyslexia. At the same time, dyslexia can make working with language, reading, spelling, and even learning another language more challenging. This article explains the different areas of the brain that are involved in learning a language. If this topic interests you as much as it does me, I’d love to keep the conversation going!

The authors of Dyslexic Advantage also publish the free Dyslexic Advantage Newsletter, which I highly recommend. Each monthly issue is packed with insight for parents, educators, and anyone interested in supporting kids who learn differently. There is also a Premium Magazine chock full of even more information.

📖 Shifting the Balance (K–2 and 3–5)

I read Shifting the Balance K-2 in 2022, and when Shifting the Balance 3-5 was published, I immediately bought that too! These two books are must-reads for any K–5 teacher. They show how to shift from balanced literacy practices to approaches grounded in the Science of Reading, and they explain the “why” and “how” behind each change. Practical, thoughtful, and teacher-friendly. You can learn more about the books on their website.

🔑 7 Mighty Moves

Over the summer of 2023, I read 7 Mighty Moves. This concise, practical book is full of strategies, anecdotes, and QR codes linking to real classroom examples. It’s aimed at K–3 teachers but is helpful for reading specialists and interventionists too. I love that the author is currently teaching — she writes from experience, not just theory.

Watching students put all the pieces together and start reading confidently is a joy like no other for me. If you want to understand how to make that happen, whether you’re a teacher, parent, grandparent, or caregiver, these books are a great place to start.

📩 Share this post with someone who cares about a child’s reading journey. And if you want more tips, book picks, and strategies, make sure to follow along here at Journey to Better Reading and on social media.