7 Big Challenges in Early Literacy Instruction

As an early elementary teacher, how do I decide what to focus on in my literacy instruction?
For early elementary teachers, the path to effective literacy instruction is often clouded by conflicting approaches and rigid mandates. While many resources offer a single set of "best practices," the reality is that the right move usually "depends"—on your students, your resources, and your specific school context. This book serves as a professional compass, showing K–3 teachers and reading specialists how to use evidence from student work and the Science of Reading to make confident, informed instructional decisions every day.
Written by a team of literacy experts and active classroom practitioners, this guide confronts the most common "pain points" in early reading. Rather than providing ideas that don't fit the confines of your classroom, the authors offer a repertoire of ways to organize learning conditions to match your current student makeup. By focusing on student thinking, you can successfully navigate the tensions of modern literacy instruction—regardless of the specific curriculum or materials you are required to use.
Inside, you will find research-based strategies to navigate critical tensions, including:

• Text Selection: Understanding the balance between Decodable vs. Leveled texts and Easy vs. Challenging texts.
• Instructional Grouping: Deciding when to utilize whole group, small group, or individual practice.
• Effective Scaffolding: Learning the difference between guiding students and misguiding them with prompts.
• Skill Integration: Balancing isolated skill development with integrated literacy practice.
• Student Agency: Moving from simple compliance to genuine engagement in the reading process.
• Purposeful Assessment: Shifting the focus from assessment as instruction to assessment for instruction.

Rachael Gabriel is professor of literacy education at the University of Connecticut and a former middle school teacher and reading specialist. Jen Barone is a reading specialist for Glastonbury Public Schools in Connecticut and an adjunct professor and literacy fellow in UCONN’s Reading and Language Arts Center. Colleen Morello is a literacy specialist for the Fairfield Public Schools in Connecticut and an adjunct professor and literacy fellow in UCONN’s Reading and Language Arts Center.