From Striving to Thriving: How to Grow Confident, Capable Readers

- Kylene Beers, Past-president of National Council Teachers of English and co-author of Notice and Note and Disrupting Thinking

"There is a heap of sage advice in this engaging and practical book. Harvey and Ward really do show us how to "grow confident, capable readers" and in the process show us what that really means.  If we are to make schools work for all children, we are going to need just this sort of work."
- Peter Johnston, Professor Emeritus, University at Albany SUNY and author of Choice Words and Opening Minds

"This is a big, vivid, sparkling compendium of new thinking and engaging instructional moves.  You'll discover an asset orientation on every page of this book—Steph and Annie write about striving readers rather than struggling readers and this shift in our thinking about children opens vast opportunities for those learners. I am crazy about the "Three to Know" section of each chapter.  The authors introduce us to three researchers whose work forms the foundation for everything they recommend and in short order we learn new tactics for the classroom, and critically, why the practices have such merit. This is a delectable resource—I'll turn to it for years to come."

- Ellin Keene, Author of To Understand; coauthor of Comprehension Going Forward and Mosaic of Thought 

"Stephanie Harvey and Annie Ward provide a skillful combination of practices and supports to nurture both joyful reading and expert instruction, not just in one classroom, but across an entire system of schools.  Chock-full of comprehensive research, From Striving to Thriving supports teachers who wish to create nuanced, child-centered formative assessments that inform their teaching. You’ll find inviting summaries of so many research studies that you could use this book to launch a year of inquiry.  For the sake of equity, for the joy of every reader you know, read this book. Read it again. Then pass it on."

- Penny Kittle, High school English teacher and author of Book Love and Write Beside Them

"Steph and Annie's book is a love letter to striving readers everywhere! They call on us to "table the labels" and show us how we can grow confident, capable, agentive readers who believe they are the kinds of kids who can figure things out. Engaging, thought- provoking, and practical, you'll return to From Striving to Thriving again and again for renewed energy, affirmation, and expert guidance when you need it most."

- Debbie Miller, 30-year teaching veteran, Denver Public Schools; author of Reading with Meaning and Teaching with Intention; co-author of No More Independent Reading without Support and Comprehension Going Forward

"Stephanie Harvey and Annie Ward have written a book that will make a positive impact on readers for generations to come. They remind us of what is important for all readers and they give us words and tools to help us make this happen for every child. Striving readers can’t succeed without teachers who believe in them and who advocate for them every day. This book will give teachers what they need to be those advocates. This is one of the most important professional books I’ve read in a long time." 

- Franki Sibberson, National Council of Teachers of English 2017 Vice President, third grade teacher, coauthor of Beyond Leveled Books and Still Learning to Read