Reading proficiency doesn't happen by chance — it's built through explicit, evidence-based instruction and intervention tailored to how students actually learn to read. Beyond the Words: Strategies and Interventions for Teaching Reading (Vol. 1) brings together expert-led webinars, peer-reviewed articles, and author-crafted discussion questions to equip educators with practical, research-grounded strategies for strengthening reading instruction across grade levels and student populations.

This collection dives into the core components of reading and literacy— from foundational skills like phonics and spelling to advanced word reading, comprehension, and language-based intervention. Whether you're supporting students with specific learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, inattention, or emerging bilingual learners, you'll find actionable guidance for making instruction more explicit, intensive, and responsive to individual needs.

In this collection, you'll explore:

• Foundational and Advanced Word Reading — Build a stronger understanding of how to identify specific learning disabilities and support advanced word reading skills as students move into the intermediate grades.
• Structured Literacy and Language Development — Learn how structured literacy approaches support language development, with practical tools like sound walls to promote independent spelling.
• Tiered Intervention Systems — Discover how to use trusted resources (including UFLI) for Tier 2 intervention, and learn how to intensify instruction when students need more support.
• Progress Monitoring That Works — Move beyond guesswork with concrete strategies for progress monitoring in reading intervention.
• Comprehension for Every Learner — Support reading comprehension through explicit attention to narrative text structure, main idea instruction, and strategies tailored for students with inattention or intellectual disability.
• Equity in Literacy Instruction — Address the unique needs of emerging bilingual students with reading disabilities to ensure instruction is both effective and inclusive.

Designed for special education teachers, general education teachers, paraeducators, and administrators alike, this collection offers something for every member of the instructional team — whether you're delivering direct intervention, co-planning support, or leading school-wide literacy initiatives. Each publication resource is paired with reflection prompts crafted by the original authors, making this collection idea for individual learning or collaborative PLC and staff development use. 

Turn evidence into practice — because strong reading instruction goes beyond the words on the page.

Purchasing this collection provides membership access to preselected articles from TEACHING Exceptional Children, CEC’s research-to-practice journal. This limited member access includes only the selected articles included in this collection, and no other articles from TEC qualify under this limited membership access.  

If you would like to access all articles from TEC, please consider becoming a member at CEC.