When Kids Can’t Read—What Teachers Can Do

A Guide for Teachers 4-12

By: Kylene Beers

Narrated by: Meredith Beers

Dear Teachers,

This new edition of When Kids Can’t Read—What Teachers Can Do, like the original edition, is based on my bedrock belief that reading, though not an innate ability for anyone, is a critical skill for all.

Reading changes us. It changes the way we think, the way we see the world, the way we process information and dream new thoughts. It allows us to discover more about ourselves and the world around us so that we might become better versions of ourselves, so we might fully participate in our communities and our nation, so that we might flourish intellectually, emotionally, creatively, and socially as passionate and compassionate beings.

And when we don’t read, when kids can’t read, all that is gone. We lose that ability to learn in this transformative way. We run the risk of being manipulated by others. We are diminished. And in that moment of being less, all around us might suffer, too. Our understanding of complex issues then becomes dependent on what someone else tells us. When kids can’t read the result is far worse than lowered test scores. The result is an illiterate life.

This new and updated second edition recognizes that helping kids who struggle with reading means knowing how to help kids with:

• Comprehension: literal and inferential meaning
• Word Work: phonics, fluency, spelling, and vocabulary
• Engagement: required and independent reading, relevance, and motivation

When Kids Can’t Read recounts my journey with one student who changed the course of my professional career, and it is your guidebook for your own journey with your students as you discover What Teachers Can Do.

—Kylene Beers

©2023 Kylene Beers (P)2023 Heinemann

No online resources included

This book would be incredible, if only the online resources that are referred to throughout each chapter were included. They are necessary to implement the strategies described in the book. I would give this book a “5” if it were complete, but without the online resources, it is far less impactful and useful to me as a teacher. Audible should either add them or put a note that they are not included.

Wealth of Information

Overall, the book is amazing! The examples and explanations are so relevant. My only issue is I feel as though I made a mistake purchasing the audible version for the second edition. While listening to the book, online resources are often mentioned. Unfortunately, access to these resources is unavailable. I contacted Audible who confirmed no online resources were included. In addition, I sent a message to the author via FB messenger, but I have not received a response. I would be more than happy to purchase the online resource if I could figure out where to do this.

Listen to the end to find online resources

I loved listening to this book. The online resources are available on the 2nd to last chapter. I can’t wait to try some of these things with my students.

Online Book Study Beware

I am a teacher and downloaded this book to participate in an online Book Study to earn credits to renew my teaching certificate. The book title and author name were the same, but the chapter titles were different. Luckily Audible allowed me to return the audiobook after just a few chapters, when I realized my mistake.