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“More than 20 years ago, I tutored my first Book Buddy, Ishmael. Guiding him from a shy, struggling student to a confident reader was one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life. Book Buddies has long been my go-to resource for tutoring young readers, whether in the school setting, privately, virtually, or with my own children. The third edition of this manual continues to be a model for effective literacy instruction with diverse learners, including students with dyslexia and other learning differences.”

—Heather Warley, PhD, Head Language Arts Teacher, Benchmark School, Media, Pennsylvania


“Book Buddies is an invaluable practical resource, unmatched by anything on the market! Just when I thought it could not get better, the Book Buddies team has come up with this substantially revised third edition. It maintains the pragmatic, research-based assessment and developmental lesson plans, as well as the detailed guidance to support coordinators in organizing and delivering a tutoring program. In addition, the assessment now includes an initial phoneme awareness portion and the directions for each part of the lesson plan have been significantly expanded. With this third edition, Book Buddies will remain the go-to resource for effective literacy tutoring in elementary schools.”

—Heidi Anne E. Mesmer, PhD, School of Education, Virginia Tech


“For struggling readers, tutoring can be the lifeline that brings success in school and beyond. This book provides all the ingredients that educators need to provide effective tutoring. The program has been designed, implemented, and tested by expert educators who have made important contributions to reading research. During and after the COVID-19 era, many children will continue to require a great deal of support for getting onto the page. This book enables educators to offer thousands of students the lifeline they desperately need.”

—Elfrieda H. Hiebert, PhD, President and CEO, TextProject


“Book Buddies is explicit, systematic, and research based, and keeps the focus on moving toward the joy of reading! Every reading teacher in every school should know about this comprehensive program.”

—Daniel T. Willingham, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Virginia

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Table of Contents

1. The Book Buddies Tutoring Framework

2. Getting Started with Book Buddies

3. Book Buddies Assessment

4. General Tutoring Plan for the Emergent Reader

5. General Tutoring Plan for the Beginning Reader

6. General Tutoring Plan for the Transitional Reader

Appendices: Materials for Coordinators and Tutors

Glossary

Resources Cited in Text

References

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About the Authors

Marcia Invernizzi, PhD, is the Edmund H. Henderson Professor Emerita of Reading Education at the University of Virginia (UVA). As cofounder of Book Buddies and PALS, an early literacy screening and diagnostic tool for PreK through the elementary grades, she has a strong interest in evidence-based practices to ensure early language and literacy success. These practices were honed at UVA’s McGuffey Reading Center, a reading clinic that Dr. Invernizzi directed for many years, and are described in several of her coauthored books, including Words Their Way. A former classroom teacher and reading specialist, Dr. Invernizzi continues to engage with preschools, elementary schools, and educational organizations seeking to ensure that all children learn to read.

• All titles by Marcia Invernizzi

Donna Lewis-Wagner, MEd, is a reading specialist and coordinator of the University of Virginia’s America Reads federal work–study program. She has served in elementary schools as a Book Buddies coordinator, Title I reading teacher, and intervention coordinator. A former journalist and publicist, Ms. Lewis-Wagner was inspired by her 4 years as a Book Buddies volunteer tutor to pursue a career in reading education, earning her master’s degree in reading from the University of Virginia.

Francine R. Johnston, EdD, taught courses in literacy and coordinated the Reading Master’s Program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro until her retirement in 2012. After teaching first grade for 12 years, she later worked as a Book Buddies coordinator while pursuing her doctorate in reading education. Dr. Johnston has a special interest in how children learn to read and spell and is the illustrator and coauthor of Words Their Way.

• All titles by Francine R. Johnston

Connie Juel, PhD, is Professor Emerita of Education at Stanford University. Her research focuses on literacy acquisition, with a particular interest in how classroom instruction affects the development of children with different reading and linguistic profiles. A former elementary school teacher, Dr. Juel is noted for her longitudinal research on models of reading development and her work on interventions to help struggling readers. She is a recipient of the Oscar S. Causey Award for outstanding contributions to reading research from the Literacy Research Association and was inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame.

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Audience

K–3 classroom teachers, literacy coaches, and reading tutors.

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Course Use

Serves as a text in tutor training programs in school districts and universities.

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Previous editions published by Guilford:

Second Edition, © 2009
ISBN: 9781606233085

First Edition, © 1998
ISBN: 9781572303478

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New to this edition:

• More explicit recommendations for addressing the needs of children with dyslexia.
• New phonemic awareness task to use in assessment.
• Expanded and clarified directions for many of the lessons.
• Additional instructional activities, including reproducible FastRead sheets.
• Reproducible tools and training videos now provided online.