Next STEPS in Literacy Instruction: Connecting Assessments to Effective Interventions

After a universal screening assessment, how can K–6 educators translate the results into evidence-based instruction, targeted interventions, and improved reading outcomes? The timely new edition of this bestselling book has clear and practical answers. Fully updated with the latest reading research and models, this teacher-friendly planning guide matches the items of today’s most popular reading assessments with Tiers 1, 2, and 3 interventions, strategies, and activities that help struggling readers succeed.

Aligned with the science of reading and extensively field tested, this guidebook is built around the National Reading Panel’s big five ideas: phoneme awareness, phonics, fluency, reading comprehension, and vocabulary. Teachers will get a concise introduction to each component, assessment options for each, specific strategies for connecting assessment findings to lesson planning, and dozens of practice activities to incorporate into small-group and whole-group instruction. Packed with strategies, scenarios, and planning worksheets, this book helps classroom teachers and reading specialists take action after assessments, make data-driven decisions, and plan differentiated instruction that makes a real difference for struggling readers.

What's New

• New focus on today’s most widely used assessments: DIBELS 8th Edition, Acadience Reading K-6, easyCBM, and aimswebPlus
• Convenient charts with clear summaries of the assessments
• 90+ new and updated activities specially designed for use with struggling readers during whole-class or small-group instruction
• Practical guidance on implementing instruction and intervention within MTSS
• Explicit connections to the science of reading, Structured Literacy, Scarborough’s Reading Rope, and Ehri’s phases of word reading development
• New online materials: a quick-reference Assessment Guide, a handy online resources list, and 20+ pages of downloadable worksheets, planning guides, and templates for classroom use

Table of Contents

Front Matter

• About the Authors
• About the Downloads
• Preface
• Acknowledgements

I Introduction

1. Introduction To Next STEPS
2. Using Next STEPS To Teach Struggling Readers

II Applying STEPS to the Components of Reading

3. Phoneme Awareness

4. Phonics—Decoding, Encoding, And Word Recognition

5. Fluency

6. Reading Comprehension

7. Vocabulary

III Weaving It All Together

8. Weaving Elements Together For A Lifetime Of Reading

Appendix A: Quick Revealing Phoneme Awareness Tool (QRPAT)

Appendix B: Acadience Reading CFOL Checklist

Glossary

References

Index

"Exactly what we need to put the science of reading into practice in our classrooms. Susan Smartt builds the bridge between research and practice, allowing what we know to become actionable in our classrooms."
- Sharon Vaughn, Executive Director, The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk

"Remarkable in its comprehensive discussion of the essential components of reading, how to measure student progress, and how to determine what to teach next. Novice teachers as well as those with vast experience will see increased student achievement when they implement the concepts presented in this text. A must for every teacher!"
- Martha Hougen

"For years, I've been wholeheartedly endorsing Next STEPS in Literacy Instruction to those committed to weaving scientific reading principles into their teaching, because it is both practical and actionable. In this revised edition…the authors draw from their extensive expertise to provide a coherent overview of the research, a deeper exploration of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), updated assessments, and an expanded bank of instructional strategies. This book is an essential resource for educators aiming to effectively apply the science of reading!"
- Amanda Nickerson, K-12 Literacy Technical Assistance Consultant

"Simply put, if you can read the book, then you can implement the powerful practices described within it. [The authors] included several practical features like assessments, word lists, checklists, and templates that can immediately be put into practice and could even help improve MTSS practices. Although practicing teachers, interventionists, and school psychologists will love the book, I used the first edition to teach literacy methods to preservice professionals and look forward to putting the second edition in place."
- Matthew Burns, Fein Professor of Special Education, School Psychology, and Early Childhood Studies and Assistant Director of the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) at the University of Florida

"Truly an instructional resource for all teachers of reading that provides guidance for ‘What do I do next?’ Smartt and Glaser’s STEPS lesson process provides the application needed to target skill instruction. With clear examples and models, it would be easy for any educator to put these recommendations into action."
- Sarah Bondy

"Valuable revisions include additional instructional activities to teach and practice the essential early literacy skills, expanded information on the reading brain, and connections between assessment and instruction. Positioning assessment and instruction in the MTSS framework offers teachers and school leaders a practical way to leverage the science of reading for reading improvement. In addition to supporting classroom teachers and reading specialists, educators will find Next STEPS useful for staff development and for training pre-service teachers."
- Stephanie A. Stollar, Founder of the Reading Science Academy

"Very well-grounded in scientific evidence about effective reading practices, this book is loaded with practical detail about how to use assessment to plan instruction, with many specific tests, instructional activities, and lesson plans, including downloadable materials for classroom use. This text will be an invaluable resource for elementary teachers of reading."
- Louise Spear-Swerling, Professor Emerita, Southern Connecticut State University

"One stop shopping for the busy teacher. It has the right amount of pedagogy for understanding the science of reading and the right amount of examples to implement the components of Structured Literacy in the classroom or intervention room. The book is a must have for teachers and intervention. I wish I had this book when I began teaching in 1990. It is perfection!"
- Dee Dee Cain, Department of Elementary, Literacy & Special Education, University of Central Arkansas, Teacher Trainer