The Writing Road to Reading and Spalding's Grade-Level Teacher Guides recommend using fine literature for teaching and practicing text structure, mental actions, and fluent and expressive reading. Some books are now out of print. Below are links to the updated lists for kindergarten to sixth grade (aligned to the 3rd editions of the teacher's guide). The books lists are now listed in the order of instruction. Books are available at the library and/or for purchasing.
For purchasing individual books or book sets for up to a 30% discount, contact Gardner’s Book Store at
602-863-6000.
Kindergarten Lists
Direct Instruction - Only 1 teacher copy needed.
This book list is used for teaching text structure and mental actions.
Some of the informative books by Inez Snyder are now out of print. There are many other books by Inez Snyder that are still available and can be substituted.
Gail Gibbons, Robin Nelson, and Ali Mitgutsh are authors that also write informative books for primary children.
Fluency - Class sets are needed.
This book list is used for fluency practice.
Recommended Literature for Enjoyment
This book list is additional recommendations and not needed for Teacher Guide objectives.
First Grade Lists
Direct Instruction - Only 1 teacher copy needed.
Some of the informative books by Inez Snyder are now out of print. There are many other books by Inez Snyder that are still available and can be substituted.
Gail Gibbons, Robin Nelson, and Ali Mitgutsh are authors that also write informative books for primary children.
Fluency - Class sets are needed.
This book list is used for fluency practice.
Recommended Literature for Enjoyment
This book list is additional recommendations and not needed for Teacher Guide objectives.
Second Grade Lists
Direct Instruction - Only 1 teacher copy needed.
This book list is used for teaching text structure and mental actions.
Fluency - Class sets are needed.
This book list is used for fluency practice.
Third Grade Lists
Direct Instruction - Only 1 teacher copy needed.
This book list is used for teaching text structure and mental actions.
Fluency - Class sets are needed.
This book list is used for fluency practice.
Fourth Grade Lists
Direct Instruction - Only 1 teacher copy needed.
This book list is used for teaching text structure and mental actions.
Fluency - Class sets are needed.
This book list is used for fluency practice.
Fifth Grade Lists
Direct Instruction - Only 1 teacher copy needed.
This book list is used for teaching text structure and mental actions.
Fluency - Class sets are needed.
This book list is used for fluency practice.
Sixth Grade List
McCall-Crabbs booklets D&E are used for initially teaching text structure and mental actions. The recommended fluency books are used for applying comprehension strategies.
Fluency - Class sets are needed.
This book list is used for fluency practice.
Spalding Practicing and Assessing Comprehension
Spalding Education International is preparing to publish comprehension assessments books for kindergarten through sixth grade students that test their ability to comprehend narrative and informational text. These assessments require students to use prior knowledge, the mental actions, and higher-level thinking. They are aligned to each Grade-Level Teacher Guide. The books, entitled Practicing and Assessing Comprehension, are currently being field tested in several schools and will be published for the school year, 2015-2016. Please check our web site for an announcement of their availability.