Dorn, Linda J., French, Cathy and Jones, Tammy. (1998). Apprenticeship in Literacy: Transitions across Reading and Writing.
York, Maine: Stenhouse Publications.
Reading Recovery is a program developed in New Zealand to help at risk
children in kindergarten through third grade learn to read. All three authors
of this book are practitioners of this approach to literacy and
"Apprenticeship in Literacy" seeks to explain both the philosophical underpinnings
on which the program is based and how to implement its prescribed activities in
the classroom.
In an easy to read and understand style, the authors discuss the fundamentals
of Reading Recovery, which includes daily individual tutoring sessions, a focus
on the child as an active participant in instruction (students are "apprentices"
in their learning), instructional scaffolding and teaching for independent learning
and reflection. Chapters cover the basics of learning to read, the more
sophisticated techniques of grouping and guided reading, assisted writing, and
independent writing. Each chapter contains practical suggestions for applying
Reading Recovery theories to the classroom, as well as authentic classroom
examples of the program in action, such as writing samples and transcripts of
discussions, to illustrate how these suggestions can be implemented and work in
real life.
While research has not conclusively shown that Reading Recovery is as
successful as the authors claim, many teachers will be intrigued by this
alternative method of teaching reading and writing. Dorn et al. have created
a thoughtful, useful, very practical and applicable text that will appeal to
educators interested in reaching those at risk readers present in every
elementary school.
Pages: 177 Price: $20.00 ISBN: 1-57110-088-1
Reviewed by Shellie Jeffries, Wayne State University
