“Kim somehow manages to completely dissect the intricacies of reading and writing development while bringing all elements into a cohesive narrative of what it means to help students become literate. Teacher preparation programs should absolutely use this book to help new educators understand the complexities and implications of their instruction. Educators who are new to reading science need this book to ensure that they are skillfully integrating instruction to maximize their impact and produce socially significant outcomes for all learners. This book is just what the field needs right now.”

—Leslie Zoroya, MA, Project Director, Reading/Language Arts, Los Angeles County Office of Education


“Learning to read and write are complex, interdependent processes. This book emphasizes the importance of learning and teaching foundational skills, including oral language skills, as the basis for developmentally appropriate instruction in both reading and writing. Kim also addresses the important roles of socioemotional factors and executive functioning in literacy development, as well as the assets that multilingual learners bring to their learning. I recommend this book for graduate-level courses in literacy development. Readers will benefit from the thorough presentation of both seminal and current research on literacy development, multilingual learning, differentiating instruction, and assessment. Throughout, Kim provides classroom connections, giving practitioners concrete strategies for implementing research-based instruction.”

—Pamela A. Mason, EdD, Chair, Literacy and Languages Concentration, Harvard Graduate School of Education


“Brilliantly bridges the research–practice gap by presenting literacy development through an integrated, evidence-based framework that moves beyond fragmented skill instruction. Kim's accessible synthesis of multiple frameworks for reading and writing makes complex developmental science not just understandable but actionable for practitioners. This book is essential for teacher educators, literacy coaches, graduate students in reading education or communication sciences and disorders, and anyone who cares deeply about literacy outcomes.”

—Tiffany P. Hogan, PhD, CCC-SLP, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, MGH Institute of Health Professions