In this much anticipated follow-up to their groundbreaking book, “Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom,” authors Jan Burkins and Kari Yates, together with co-author Katie Cunningham, extend the conversation in “Shifting the Balance, Grades 3-5: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Upper Elementary Classroom.” This new text is built in mind specifically for grades 3-5 teachers around best practices for the intermediate classroom. Shifting the Balance introduces six more shifts across individual chapters that: • Zoom in on a common (but not-as helpful-as-we-had-hoped) practice to reconsider • Untangle a number of "misunderstandings" that have likely contributed to the use of the common practice • Propose a more science-aligned shift to the current practice • Provide solid scientific research to support the revised practice • Offer a collection of high-leverage, easy-to-implement instructional routines to support the shift to more brain-friendly instruction The authors offer a refreshing approach that is respectful, accessible, and practical grounded in an earnest commitment to building a bridge between research and classroom practice. As with the first Shifting the Balance, they aim to keep students at the forefront of reading instruction.
