Yellow Brick Roads: Shared and Guided Paths to Independent Reading 4-12

If you're a teacher, you need this book! What a great tool. I've taught both intermediate elementary grades and middle school, and I can tell you that this book gives so many useful tips and strategies to help those struggling readers we all have in our classrooms. ALL of Janet Allen's books are worth buying and reading. I have all of them and constantly refer to them for ideas or reminders. I do not joke when I say that several of the pages in her book are folded down, as a way to remind me that there is something incredible to remember on that page. Her book recommendations are great too. Another reason this book is so amazing is that Janet Allen is honest. Not all of her strategies work every year. We all know that we don't get carbon-copy classrooms every year and have to modify and tweak our instructional strategies to reach our students. That's the beauty of Allen's books, you can adapt them to how they fit best with your class. If you like this book, buy "Words, Words, Words" and "There's Room for me Here" as companion-pieces to "Yellow Brick Roads." Great reading, and worth your while!!!!

Janet Allen's book is a wonderful resource for any middle or high school teachers of literacy - especially those teachers involved with at risk learners. Allen's work is also always uplifting and motivational. She reminds all of us who work with kids that all kids truly can learn, as long as we are willing to meet them where they are. Allen does not just offer a philosophical perpective, hower. Yellow Brick Road is also filled with practical and "do"able activities and strategies to implement in a classroom teacher's instruction. The book is an easy and enjoyable read.

Yellow Brick Roads is a must read for the reading teacher who is deluged with new books each year. It will tie up many loose ends for you, rejuvenate you, and validate your gut feelings about the teaching of reading. Janet Allen's greatest gift is really to the struggling readers themselves. She has total respect for her students, and that respect shines through her writing. She reminds us that our students are our greatest teachers, and that we must observe and listen to them carefully in order to support their literacy growth. Teacher as researcher is the guiding princeple here. She will also help you convince the schedule makers that you need more time for the teaching of reading. I am ready to reread it the third time this summer!