The reading mind: a cognitive approach to understanding how the mind reads

Teachers and administrators consider reading the most important subject in school. They believe that if a child can’t read, the chances of success in any subject are slim. But despite such an emphasis on the importance of literacy in school, there are few resources for educators that explain reading from a cognitive standpoint.

Written in an accessible, teacher-friendly format, this book provides a cognitive description of the process of reading, explaining what happens in a child's mind as they are reading. As in his previous bestseller, Why Don’t Students Like School?, Willingham offers a perspective that is rooted in scientific research, but with a practical and engaging, ready-for-application sensibility.

The book covers every aspect of reading, starting with two fundamental processes: reading by sight and reading by sound. It also addresses reading comprehension at all levels, from reading for understanding at early levels to inferring deeper meaning from texts at the high school level. Another chapter discusses how motivation works as it relates to reading, and the final chapter focuses on reading on digital devices.

This approachable book helps teachers understand the science behind reading, giving them the information they need to better engage students as readers.