Catching Readers Before They Fall

This essential guide for educators breaks down the complex cognitive processes of skilled reading into teachable strategies that can transform struggling students into confident readers. Through vivid classroom scenarios and concrete examples of teacher-student interactions, the book demonstrates what effective reading intervention actually looks and sounds like in practice. It reveals how proficient readers simultaneously employ multiple strategic approaches while decoding text, providing a clear framework for building these integrated skills in developing readers. The practical methodology focuses on helping children construct their own reading processes rather than relying on isolated drills or worksheets.

What sets this resource apart is its emphasis on responsive teaching that meets students exactly where they are in their literacy development. The author provides specific language and instructional moves that teachers can immediately implement to support readers who are falling behind their peers. Classroom educators, reading specialists, and literacy coaches will find this an invaluable roadmap for creating intervention that truly addresses the root causes of reading difficulties. The result is an approach that doesn't just patch temporary gaps but builds lasting reading competence through strategic understanding.