READING SKILLS FOR LOW LEVEL READERS
IN UPPER GRADES   

24/7: Science Behind the Scenes
Children's Press High Interest Books / Crabtree Contact Series
 Frank Schaffer High Interest/Low Readability Workbooks
Building Basic Literacy Skills / Connections / Grammar Basics Plus / Vocabulary Builders
Other Resources for Remedial / Special Education Teachers

This high interest series is written at grade level 5-7 for interest grade levels 8-12. Its colorful graphics, photos, maps, and engaging text hooks are guaranteed to grab the attention of reluctant readers and draw them in. These books also sneak in science terms and techniques and offer a look at interesting occupations behind the scenes that might motivate someone to study harder and make a new goal. Each book focuses on one fascinating aspect of how science is used in the real world to detect disease, catch criminals, gather intelligence to help protect the nation, and solve mysteries which have puzzled people for a long time.
Read details and see titles

Children's Press High Interest Books

This group of series for reluctant readers are geared toward an interest level of grades 7-12 with a reading level of  grades 4-7. Each book is clearly written in simple sentences using familiar vocabulary. Other features include brilliant color photos, fascinating sidebars, and user-friendly fact boxes, charts, and tables which highlight key information in the text.

On Duty Series: This group of books offers an insider's look at how America's heroes in the armed forces train to be the best. 48 pages each, trade paperback, full-color photos. There are more in this series than I stock at present, so if this series especially interests you, please email for a list of other titles and I'll send it. Then you can special order all that you want. Click image to enlarge it. $6.26-D each.

Life as an Air Force Fighter Pilot, by Robert C. Kennedy, Cat. #235451. $6.26-D

Life With the Navy Seals, Cat. # CP-235516. $6.26-D

High-Tech Military Weapons Series: As the name implies, this series introduces the military weapons that seem to fascinate boys of all ages. There are more in this series than I stock at present, so if this series especially interests you, please email for a list of other titles and I'll send it. Then you can special order all that you want. 48 pages, trade paper.

Combat Fighter: CP-187063
 

Natural Disasters Series: Read about the reasons for and response to some of our most damaging natural disasters and how you can try to protect yourself  when they happen.  There are more titles in this series than I stock at present, so if this series especially interests you, please email for a list of other titles and I'll send it. Then you can special order all that you want. 48 pages, trade paper.

Earthquakes. BTH-3243. $6.26-D: Sold Out

Forest Fires. BTH-3244. $6.26-D- Sold Out

Survivor Series: Sometimes people encounter challenging situations which only the most courageous individuals can handle and come through intact. Perhaps they struggle against a raging sea or the jagged slopes of a mountain or even the emptiness of space. The books in this series celebrate the human spirit and provide the true stories of people who faced what seemed to be impossible conditions and survived. 48 pages each. Contain full-color and black-and-white photos and maps. There are more in this series than I stock at present, so if this series especially interests you, please email for a list of other titles and I'll send it. Then you can special order all that you want.   

   
    Crisis in Space: Apollo 13 by Mark Beyer.  Cat. #BTH-3235. $6.26-D

    The Donner Party by Scott Werther. Cat. #BTH-3233. $6.26-D

    Dr. Jerri Nielson:  Cheating Death in Antarctica. What does the only doctor in a research facility in Antachtica do when she is confined for the winter, cut off from the outside world, and discovers she has breast cancer?  Cat. #BTH-3240.  $6.26-D

        Jon Krakauer's Adventure on Mt. Everest, Cat. #BTH-3232.  $6.26-D- Sold Out

    The Shackleton Expedition, Cat. #BTH-3241. $6.26-D- Sold Out

     Steven Callahan, Cat. #BTH-3242. $6.26-D

Other series are also available in the High Interest Group of books:  Animal Attack! (Deals with attacks of wild creatures on people), Built for Speed (Deals with speedy race cars, jet skis, trains, etc.), Stock Car Racing, Cool Collectibles (Things teens might collect such as dolls, coins, rocks, stamps, trading cards, butterflies, military collectibles, and miniature cars), Life in the Future (Cloning, genetic engineering, robotics, space exploration, ), Natural Disasters, Outdoor Life ( Snowmobiling, and waterskiing --all for teens),   and Top Secret (books on the FBI,  Sky Marshals, and Undercover Agents.). Unfortunately I can't afford to stock them all, but I can give you more detailed information on any series and special order it for you. Please allow about two-four weeks for special orders to arrive.

Crabtree Contact Series

A sophisticated, edgy series of reading books designed to appeal to reluctant readers. Dramatic imagery of both popular and unusual subjects makes each book appealing to both children and early teens. Different reading levels allow readers to progress from one level to the next. Contain a glossary of "Need-to-Know-Words",related web links, and an index at the end. 32 pages each. Reading levels grades 2-3. Grade levels 4-8.

Air War by Antony Loveless. This fascinating book describes the work of both the American and British Air Force in war and peace. The amazing color photographs take the readers right inside the planes and also allow them to see what the pilots see from the cockpit. There are also labeled photos of the flight gear used by pilots and air-to-air refueling. The book also describes and pictures the most popular aircraft of the RAF and USAF. Reluctant readers, especially males, will devour this book. Guided Reading Level M. BTH-5098. $8.06-D

Bigfoot and Other Mysterious Creatures by John Townsend. With simple text and full-color illustrations, including photographs, this fantastic book looks at the history, legend, and evidence behind the world's mysterious creatures. Come along for a revealing look at the mysterious creatures that have eluded man for decades. Contains a glossary of "Need-to-Know-Words", related web links, and an index at the end. Reading Level 2-3. Interest Level Gr. 5-8. Guided Reading Level N. BTH-5396.. $8.06-D

Bone Detectives by John Townsend. With simple text and full-color illustrations, including photographs, this book tells what happens when a skeleton is discovered where it shouldn't be. This amazing book takes readers step by step through the process of trying to determine a person's identity and facts about their life from nothing more than bones. Reading Level 3-4. Interest Level Gr. 6-9. Guided Reading Level N.  BTH-5399.. $8.06-D

Crime Lab Technician by John Townsend. This book will attract not only reluctant older readers who are below grade level, but also younger children who read at grade level. With simple text and full-color illustrations, including photographs, this exciting book shows readers what it's like to be a crime lab technician-one of today's hottest careers. Follow an investigation as it unfolds from the jobs performed at a crime scene to the tests performed back at the lab. Contains a glossary of "Need-to-Know-Words", related web links, and an index at the end. Reading Level 3-4. Interest Level Gr. 6-9. Guided Reading Level N.  BTH-5395.. $8.06-D

Comic Books and Manga by Eddie Robson. This book will attract not only reluctant older readers who are below grade level, but also younger children who read at grade level. With simple text and full-color illustrations, including photographs, this exciting book shows readers what's behind the drawings in graphic novels, manga and comic books, and how they are created.  Contains a glossary of "Need-to-Know-Words", related web links, and an index at the end. Reading Level 3-4. Interest Level Gr. 6-9. Guided Reading Level N.  BTH-5400.. $8.06-D

Escape From the Towers by Andra Serlin Abramson. Exciting color photographs show the moment by moment countdown and on-scene action as terrorists flew two planes into the twin towers in New York on September 11, 2001. Guided Reading Level N. BTH-5097. $8.06-D

Forensic Evidence: Blood by Darlene Stille.  With simple text and full-color illustrations, including photographs, this book shows how crime scene investigators (CRIs) search for evidence in a man's apartment when he is missing. There are two suspects. The author takes the reader from the crime scene to the lab and to the questioning of the suspects until the murder is solved. Guided Reading Level O. BTH-5096. $8.06-D

Forensic Evidence: Hairs and Fibers by Darlene Stille.   This book will attract not only reluctant older readers who are below grade level, but also younger children who read at grade level. With simple text and full-color illustrations, including photographs, it shows how forensic scientists look through the microscope at hair samples that reveal tell-tale DNA and fibers whose material or ink is like the DNA of manufactured products. Contains a glossary of "Need-to-Know-Words",related web links, and an index at the end. Reading Level 3-4. Interest Level Gr. 6-9. Guided Reading Level O.  BTH-5393.. $8.06-D

Forensic Evidence: Prints by John Townsend. This book will attract not only reluctant older readers who are below grade level, but also younger children who read at grade level. With simple text and full-color illustrations, including photographs, it shows how crime scene investigators (CRIs) use fingerprints to investigate a bank robbery. Will a fingerprint lead police to the robber? Contains a glossary of "Need-to-Know-Words", related web links, and an index at the end. Reading Level 3-4. Interest Level Gr. 6-9. Guided Reading Level O.  BTH-5394.. $8.06-D

Monster Crocs by Tom Jackson. Urban legends abound that prehistoric crocodiles still exist in lakes and rivers around the world. This book hunts down these monster crocodiles and features spectacular photographs of the largest ones found to date in all of their jaw-snapping glory. Contains a glossary of "Need-to-Know-Words", related web links, and an index at the end. Reading Level 2-3. Interest Level Gr. 5-8. Guided Reading Level L. BTH-5397.. $8.06-D

NASCAR Blast by David Clayton. See the top NASCAR racers and their cars in action. Text is simple and accompanied by spectacular illustrations, including photos.  You will also learn the rules of the sport so you can understand the tactics used. Feel what it's like to sit in the driver's seat. Contains a glossary of "Need-to-Know-Words", related web links, and an index at the end. Reading Level 3-4. Interest Level Gr. 6-9. Guided Reading Level N.  BTH-5401..$8.06-D

Piranhas and Other Small Deadly Creatures by Tom Jackson. I've never really been a water person, but after reading this I have even more reasons to want to stick to dry land. Although most of the creatures featured in this book do not live near me, I am now informed of the dangers they are to those who do live near them. And some don't live in the water. Creatures described and pictured include various jellyfish, the pufferfish, the stonefish (another reason to keep off those coral reefs), the blue-ringed octopus, piranhas, the golden poison dart frog, the cone snail, the Sydney funnel-web spider, the tsetse fly, and the mosquito. Descriptions include habitat locations, how the animals kills, and possible treatments that help some people. Full color photographs show you exactly what each dangerous creature looks like. Guided Reading Level M. BTH-5099. $8.06-D

Shark Attack by Tom Jackson. This book will attract not only reluctant older readers who are below grade level, but also younger children who read at grade level. Loaded with  full-color illustrations, including photographs! This fascinating book explores just what makes some kinds of sharks attack and the kind of damage powerful jaws and hundreds of teeth can do. Contains a glossary of "Need-to-Know-Words", related web links, and an index at the end. Reading Level 2-3. Interest Level Gr. 5-8. Guided Reading Level M. BTH-5398. $8.06-D

Snake Bite by Tom Jackson. If snakes make you nervous, you might not enjoy this book. But middle school students who love to be grossed out will probably read this eagerly. Watch the corn snake swallow a mouse whole. See a hog-nosed pit viper kill and swallow a frog. See the open mouth of a snake in the "Say, ahh" position. Gross enough yet? Learn about the different kinds of venom and their effect and which snakes offer which venom. Watch the rock python give a crocodile the squeeze treatment. Learn to identify poisonous snakes, how to survive a snake bite, what cures are available, and best, how to avoid being bitten. Some of these snakes are endangered, so you will be happy to know that zoos are protecting and breeding them so they can be saved and released back into the wild areas they came from. Guided Reading Level L. BTH-5100. $8.06-D

Stunt Pros by Frances Ridley. This book will attract not only reluctant older readers who are below grade level, but also younger children who read at grade level. With simple text and full-color illustrations, including photographs, this book looks behind the scenes into the lives of the men and women who risk everything to excite an audience. Learn what it takes to put your life on the line to perform thrilling stunts—and survive! Reading Level 2-3. Interest Level Gr. 5-8. Guided Reading Level L. BTH-5402. $8.06-D

Tank Warfare by Antony Loveless. This pictorial history of the tank and tank warfare includes the British FV4034 Challenger 2 and the American M1 Abrams tanks. It describes how a tank crew lives and fights and what each crew member's job is. It shows tank platoons in action and explains how tanks can be stopped. Also pictured and described are the newer, smaller tanks of the future, including Scimitars and Spartans. For young people with low reading skills who are interested in weapons and how warfare is conducted, this book will prove motivating. The color photographs make the text more understandable because the reader can immediately see such things as where a tank is vulnerable. Guided Reading Level N.  BTH-5101. $8.06-D

Frank Schaffer High Interest/Low Readability Workbooks

  High Interest / Low Readability Action Adventure, Middle School. by Richard Gifford. Milestone / Frank Schaffer, 2007.  These attention-grabbing, age-appropriate original short stories and activities are perfect for readers struggling below their grade level.. The stories are  accompanied by pre-reading activities, vocabulary exercises, discussion questions, homework, and extension activities. There are six stories in all. Answers for activities are included. Reproducible for classroom use. 80 pages.  BTH-4541. $9.89-D

  High Interest / Low Readability Biographies, Middle School. by Delan Heidrich. Milestone / Frank Schaffer, 2007.  These attention-grabbing, age-appropriate biographies are perfect for struggling readers. Articles are at a lower reading level than the grade and are accompanied by pre-reading activities, vocabulary exercises, discussion questions, homework, and extension activities. The biographical stories emphasize triumph over poverty, misfortunes, bad choices, and failures. Biographical figures include authors like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Hans Christian Andersen, political leaders like Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Paine, old ladies such as Maggie Kuhn and Mother Jones, food product producers such as Milton Hershey and Colonel Sanders, batters such as Babe Ruth, and the circus figure, P.T. Barnum. Topics and illustrations will appeal to middle school students. Answers for activites are included. Reproducible for classroom use. 80 pages. BTH-4540. $9.89-D

  High Interest / Low Readability Inventions, Middle School. by Delan Heidrich. Milestone / Frank Schaffer, 2007.  These attention-grabbing, age-appropriate stories behind inventions we use all the time are perfect for readers struggling below their grade level.. The stories are accompanied by pre-reading activities, vocabulary exercises, discussion questions, homework, and extension activities. There are eight fascinating stories of chance and error that led to the invention of such things as jeans, Band-Aids®, Teddy Bears, Velcro®, Silly Putty®, Slinky®, chewing gum, ice cream, and more. Answers for activities are included. Reproducible for classroom use. . 80 pages.  BTH-4542. $9.89-D

High Interest / Low Readability Mysteries. Milestone / Frank Schaffer, 2007.  These attention-grabbing, age-appropriate mysteries are perfect for struggling readers. Stories range from a 2.0 to 5.0 reading level and are accompanied by pre-reading activities, vocabulary exercises, discussion questions, and writing activities. Topics and illustrations will appeal to middle school students. Answers for activities are included. Reproducible for classroom use.

     High Interest / Low Readability Mysteries Grade 6 by Jennifer Tendero. BTH-4537. $9.89-D

                                                      High Interest / Low Readability Mysteries Grade 7, by Q.L. Pearce. BTH-4539. $9.89-D

     High Interest / Low Readability Mysteries Grade 8 by Q.L. Pearce. BTH-4538. $9.89-D

  High Interest / Low Readability Nonfiction, Volume 1 by Richard Gifford. Milestone, C. 2004. This book includes engaging articles to stimulate and hold the interest of students who are reading below grade level. Lower reading levels are achieved through the use of controlled vocabulary, simple sentence structure, and clear illustrations. The questions and student activity sheets are designed to improve the reading comprehension skills of remedial readers. The articles and activities can be used as part of a teacher-directed lesson or assigned as independent work. The selections are engaging and of high interest. There are pre-reading activities that include prediction skills, during- reading reinforcement and open-ended question activities, and after-reading exercises for vocabulary attainment and comprehension. This title is aligned to state and national standards and promotes Reading Next and Adolescent Literacy Initiatives. 80 pages.
BTH-5384. $9.89

High Interest / Low Readability Nonfiction, Volume 2. by Richard Gifford. Milestone, C. 2004. This book includes engaging articles to stimulate and hold the interest of students who are reading below grade level. Lower reading levels are achieved through the use of controlled vocabulary, simple sentence structure, and clear illustrations. The questions and student activity sheets are designed to improve the reading comprehension skills of remedial readers. The articles and activities can be used as part of a teacher-directed lesson or assigned as independent work. The selections are engaging and of high interest. There are pre-reading activities that include prediction skills, during- reading reinforcement and open-ended question activities, and after-reading exercises for vocabulary attainment and comprehension. This title is aligned to state and national standards and promotes Reading Next and Adolescent Literacy Initiatives. 80 pages. BTH-5385. $9.89

High Interest / Low Readability Short Stories Grade 6 by Ann Fisher. Milestone, 2005. These attention-grabbing, age-appropriate stories are perfect for struggling readers. Stories range from a 2.0 to a 5.0 reading level and are accompanied by pre-reading activities, vocabulary exercises, discussion questions, and writing activities. Topics and illustrations will appeal to middle school students. Reproducible. Answers included. BTH-5386. $9.89-D

High Interest / Low Readability Short Stories Grade 7 by Delana Heidrich. Milestone, 2005. These attention-grabbing, age-appropriate stories are perfect for struggling readers. Stories range from a 2.0 to a 5.0 reading level and are accompanied by pre-reading activities, vocabulary exercises, discussion questions, and writing activities. Topics and illustrations will appeal to middle school students. Reproducible. Answers included. BTH-5387. $9.89-D

High Interest / Low Readability Short Stories Grade 8 by Delana Heidrich. Milestone, 2005. These attention-grabbing, age-appropriate stories are perfect for struggling readers. Stories range from a 2.0 to a 5.0 reading level and are accompanied by pre-reading activities, vocabulary exercises, discussion questions, and writing activities. Topics and illustrations will appeal to middle school students. Reproducible. Answers included. BTH-5388. $9.89-D

Beginning Reading for Older Students: 30 Reproducible High-Interest / Emergent-Skills Stories for the Classroom and the Home by Gloria Lapin. Good Apple, 2002. This book will be a valuable resource for those who teach upper elementary through high school students, ESL students, students with special needs, high-risk students, or others with reading difficulties. The 30 reproducible stories are in graphic format, a format which is becoming popular with young people. The main characters are not little kids. There is nothing here to make an older student feel he or she is reading baby stuff. Subjects include things like watching TV, getting a haircut, shopping, eating out, looking for keys, sports, taking the bus, talking to friends on the phone, looking for someone in a public place, and more. Stories are very short.

 Included are an introduction to all 220 Dolch words, frequent repetition of words to help retention, a master vocabulary list with reproducible word cards for reinforcement, comprehension questions to strengthen understanding, and forms for making one's own stories or continuing some that are here. 80 pages. If you''ve had a tough time finding emergent readers in a form that teens can relate to, you should definitely try this. BTH-2957. $11.69-D

Building Basic Literacy Skills
written by Gilly Czerwonka

This series is designed for grades 5 and up and ELL.
It is great for older students who require additional support in reading and spelling, since it will help them improve their basic literacy skills. The lessons are designed to be used in extra daily sessions, such as tutoring programs. . Structured and sequential lessons help build competence in reading, spelling, and contextual use of single and multi-syllable words. Lessons follow similar patterns of delivery so that students may work with a minimum amount of tutor preparation and guidance. Each book is organized into cumulative units that focus on a distinct group of skills. There are seven 80-page books in the series, with limited reproduction rights.
They are $9.89-D each.

Available titles:

Words covers the building and splitting of simple c-v-c (consonant-vowel-consonant) combinations and consonant blends. BTH-1170. $9.89-D

Syllables covers breaking words into syllables and long vowel sounds.  BTH-1171. $9.89-D

Vowel Sounds covers the long vowel combinations and splitting syllables with long vowel sounds.  BTH-1172. $9.89-D

Word Beginnings and Endings deals with common prefixes and suffixes.  BTH-1173. $9.89-D.

Complex Words deals with more complex multi-syllabic words and more common prefixes and suffixes.  BTH-1174. $9.89-D

Irregular Words deals with words that follow less common or seemingly no spelling patterns (better known as "instant" or "sight" words.   BTH-1175. $9.89-D

Spelling introduces a range of methods and activities to help students learn and retain these words for use in their everyday written work. The author recognizes that students need to be able to use what they have learned outside of workbooks and learning tasks, so she has included spelling sheets, short dictation passages, and simple "Find the Errors" texts.   BTH-1176. $9.89-D

Connections Series by Steck-Vaughn.

This series is designed for low-level readers having trouble in content areas. The   reading books are written at level 5-8. Connections is a self-directed program. Because of its low reading levels and straightforward directions, students can measure their own progress with pretests and posttests. Interpretive correlation charts help students find the precise pages for remedial instruction. Each book comes with bound-in answer key. 250 pages in each book. Illustrated with photos and art. Each book is $15.75-D

Connections: Basic Skills in Writing: Covers the writing process, narrative writing, descriptive writing, expository writing, and persuasive writing in the first unit. the second unit, Workplace and Personal Writing, covers letter writing, job search writing, workplace writing, explanatory writing, and report writing. The third unit is a Grammar Guide that covers mechanics, usage and   sentence structure. The last unit is a writing handbook. Connections are given for writing in the real world of work. Cat. #BTH-211. $15.75-D

Connections: Basic Skills in Reading: Helps students develop skills needed to read and understand the various kinds of literary, popular, academic,and practical writing. There are selections from many types of popular and classical literature, introductions to help students know what to look for so they learn to read actively, and follow up exercises to help students determine how well they have understood what they have read. Each unit also connects the skills practiced to other subject areas and to the real world of work.

Fiction selections are taken from works such as The Ghostway by Tony Hillerman; I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov; Salem's Lot by Stephen King, "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Poe, and more.

Nonfiction selections are taken from the following:
    Biography: Langston Hughes: A Biography by Milton Meltzer
    Biography: Luis W. Alvarez by Corinn Codye
    Autobiography: Say Hey by Willie Mays
    Autobiography: Black Elk Speaks as told through John G. Niehardt
    Essay: "Street Directions" by Andy Rooney
    Persuasive Essay: "Thoughts on Peace in an Air Raid" by Virginia Woolf
    Magazine Article: "A Courageous Stand" by Kenny Moore
    TV Review: "Jimmy, we hardly knew ye -- the real story behind Smit;s departure from NYPD Blue"
    Book Review: Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard, reviewed by Ralph Novak

Poetry and Drama selections are taken from the following:
    Popular Drama: "Crimes of the Heart: by Beth Henley
    Social Drama: "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry.
    Popular Poetry: "The Thirty-Eighth Year" by Lucile Clifton and "A Picture on the Mantel" by James Walker
    Classical Poetry: "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost,   "The Minuet" by Mary Mapes Dodge" and
        "Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson

Practical selections include brochures and advertisements, calendars and schedules, forms and documents, manuals and handbooks, drawings and diagrams, and charts and graphs. Cat. #BTH-212, $15.75-D

Connections: Basic Skills in Mathematics: Covers operations with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, ratios, proportions, percents, some algebra formulas and topics, and some statistics, probability and geometry topics. Shows connections of topics to other subject areas and also their applications in the world of work.
Cat. #BTH-215, $15.75-D

Connections: Basic Skills in Science: Life Science topics include scientific methods, the cell, blood vessels, bones and muscles, the reproductive system, genetics, bacteria and viruses, plants, animal behavior, life cycles, the environment, ecosystems, and evolution. Earth and Space Science topics include weather, the atmosphere, natural resources, the solar system, and space exploration. Chemistry topics include Matter, changes in matter, mixtures and solutions, combustion, and nuclear fission. Physics topics include machines, momentum, electricity, light, and lasers. Applications are shown in other subjects and in the world of work.
Cat. #BTH-214, $15.75-D

Connections: Basic Skills in Social Studies: Units studied are Geography, World History, American History, Government and Civics, and Economics. Careers involving these areas of knowledge are introduced, as are connections to other subject areas. Cat. #BTH-213, $15.75-D

Grammar Basics Plus is designed for struggling learners who need to understand the building blocks of language. The easy-to-follow lessons are divided into three units -- Parts of Speech, Usage, and Mechanics. Each page presents clear directions and a model example to guide students in their work. Also included are assessment pages for each unit and a checklist of skills for tracking student progress. Each exercise has a unified theme, with one selection on the theme being fiction and the other being nonfiction. This helps students learn to practice their skills in a variety of genres.  There are several suggestions for varying the ways in which students can record their responses. Books in this series are aligned to state and national standards. Limited reproduction rights and an answer key are included in each book. These books are not closely graded. Book A is for beginners of any age past primary. Book B is for students at the next level. Published by LDA, an imprint of McGraw-Hill Children's Publishing. 128 pages each.

        Grammar Basics Plus Book A: BTH-2958. $12.59-D
        Grammar Basics Plus Book B: BTH-2959. $12.59-D

Other Resources for Remedial / Special Education Teachers

How to Teach Reading When you're Not a Reading Teacher by Sharon H. Faber. Incentive Publications. This book was written for middle grade teachers who realize that some of their students can't read at all or have great difficulty reading. Though most middle school teachers haven't been trained as reading teachers, they do know that when they have students who can't read their textbooks, they have a responsibility to help these students with learning disabilities. Many  teachers are already doing some of the right things by instinct as they break down textbooks into manageable units, preview a textbook's features, and teach content-specific vocabulary before an assignment. This book reinforces those strategies already in use and provides new and practical approaches for teaching students how to read. If you have children in your class who have been left behind, this book will give you the tools you need to help them catch up. 135 pages, including bibliography. BTH-660. $13.46-D

Reading Success Book 4: A Multisensory Reading Intervention Program by Celia Stone, Elizabeth Franks, and Myra.  Nicholson. Instructional Fair / LDA, 2000. This book is designed to help students with learning disabilities as well as those who have various spelling and reading difficulties to acquire the confidence, self-esteem, and skills necessary to achieve success. It will guide students progressively from the very first stages of letter recognition to full literacy. This sequential learning program consists of six cumulative ungraded levels. It is a reading through spelling process which ensures that the problems of spelling and writing are overcome as the child learns to read. In addition, Reading Success: A Multisensory Reading Intervention Program is full of varied and fun activities and self-affirming review pages to encourage learners. This volume covers ee, ar, or, -y, i-e, a-e, ay, ce, ci, cy, er, oo, ge, gi, gy, -dge, o-e, and u-e. Pages are reproducible for students in one classroom. This book is useful for teachers and parents of those with learning disabilities. If students have not worked through the first three books in the series, there is an assessment in this books to determine if a student is ready for it. This series is out of print, though I do expect to also have Book 2 in by October, 2007. 176 pages. BTH-3978. $8.93-B

Vocabulary Builders by Donald Skrabanek. Published by LDA, an imprint of McGraw-Hill Children's Publishing. Books in this series are aligned to state and national standards. They are designed to help struggling readers develop better vocabularies so that reading will not be such a chore. The cross-curricular reading selections help students learn vocabulary in context for math, literature, language arts, social studies, science, and life survival skills. Each lesson focuses on only five or six new vocabulary words. The vocabulary words and high-interest content are drawn from the upper elementary grade levels, but the reading level is targeted for struggling readers at the primary reading level so they can learn the words they need to function effectively at their grade levels. Multi-page lessons include a reading comprehension selection to introduce the vocabulary words followed by extension activities to reinforce learning. Several assessments are provided to gauge student performance and progress. Book A is correlated to basal textbooks. The books are not closely graded, but Book A appears to be at about grade 2 or 3 level. Book B is at a higher level. Illustrations are suitable for middle school or even higher grades. Limited reproduction rights and answer keys are provided. 128 pages. BTH-2960

        Vocabulary Builders Level A: BTH-2960. $12.59-D
        Vocabulary Builders Level B: BTH-2961. $12.59-D