Literacy Achievement and Diversity

Literacy Achievement and Diversity is an indispensable collection of wisdom from respected literacy researcher Kathy Au. In this timely book, Au addresses the question of what educators can do to close the literacy achievement gap. She begins by outlining theory and research and then provides practical strategies to help teachers improve the literacy learning of students of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. This book shows that the literacy achievement gap can be closed by adhering to four proven-effective keys to success: (1) recognizing that the solution must be multifaceted, (2) providing students with ample instruction in higher-level thinking with text, (3) building on the strengths that students bring from home, and (4) pulling together schools as places where teachers can collaborate to reach a shared vision of excellence in literacy achievement.

Book Features:

• Provides a social constructivist perspective on closing the literacy achievement gap.
• Offers a detailed treatment of culturally responsive instruction and its role in improving literacy achievement.
• Addresses complex topics such as phonics, non-mainstream varieties of English, and ownership of literacy in a clear and comprehensible manner.
• Includes a reflection activity for students at the end of each chapter.

Kathryn H. Au is chief executive officer of SchoolRise, LLC, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and past president of the International Reading Association.

“After completing this ‘must-read’ book, you will see that it is indeed possible to close the literacy achievement gap.”
—From the Foreword by Patricia A. Edwards, President, International Reading Association, 2010–2011

“In this important book, Kathryn Au shares a lifetime of invaluable contributions and insights on the successful education of all students, with a special focus on students of diverse backgrounds. By pulling together work that spans her career, Au makes a compelling case that by engaging students in high level thinking and building on their cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and by developing school-wide professional learning communities, educators CAN close the achievement gap and bring all students to high levels of literacy.”
—Barbara M. Taylor, Guy Bond Professor of Reading Education, University of Minnesota