In this follow-up to their groundbreaking book on teaching foundational skills, David and Meredith Liben pen Know Better, Do Better: Comprehension, to delve into reading comprehension, shedding light on how the mind makes sense of texts.
The Libens have taught, written, and presented together for 38 years. With a focus on acquiring vocabulary, constructing knowledge, and understanding language structures—all of which are essential to comprehending texts—they offer practical, cutting-edge instructional strategies and tools. Their work helps educators seamlessly translate research into actionable steps so that all students, regardless of background or ability, can have stronger reading experiences.
Offering tried-and-true methods and examples drawn largely from their years as NYC Family Academy administrators, the Libens’ work encourages students to read with joy and purpose. In their book, educators will find:
-
A three-level model of comprehension based on cognitive science and research.
-
Easy ways to adapt time-honored practices such as read-aloud, close reading, and journaling to enhance comprehension.
-
Classroom anecdotes demonstrating methods in action, based on high-quality children’s literature and supplemented by QR code-linked video interviews with the authors and teachers.
Margaret G. McKeown, Clinical Professor Emerita of Education, University of Pittsburgh, and Member of the Reading Hall of Fame, writes: “David and Meredith are amazing educational professionals, not only because they have years of deep experience in teaching, school administration, and curriculum development, but also because they stay close to the research. They have investigative minds, realizing that knowing and understanding are ongoing processes. That spirit of investigation—that openness to not knowing, but working to find out—runs through what they have done in classrooms and what they recommend for teachers, including the approaches in this book.”
To learn more about Know Better, Do Better: Comprehension, click here, and be sure to follow @ScholasticEdu on X (formerly known as Twitter).
