Ask Us (almost) Anything About the Science of (teaching) Reading

Two researchers and two teachers walk into a bar... Just kidding ...It was many bars, over manyyears. The result is a conversational, informative, and entertaining book that will have you smiling as you learn. Ask Us waswritten by two scientific researchers and two teachers. Because of their diverse backgrounds, it highlights what teachers need to know about the science and artbehind teaching Language Arts.This book is structured around the Active View of Reading (Duke & Cartwright, 2021), which has gained traction in the reading world because it focuses on motivation, and executive functioning, as well as phonics, fluency, and language comprehension. Through a scientific review in each of these areas, the authors aim to increase teacher knowledge, so that the research can be put into action. As the authors say over and over again... the importance of teacher knowledge cannot be overstated because:"Teacher content knowledge matters. What you know, and what you do adds value to our society. Who you are and the relationships you build have long lasting impact. What you read makes you more empathetic and prosocial. Teachers, you matter! Every single part of you, matters." (Martin-Chang et al., 2026, p. 210.)What readers are saying:“One of the things I appreciated most about this book is how effectively it bridges theory and practice. Each chapter includes examples of both good and bad classroom activities, encouraging readers to apply their knowledge more effectively. Ask Us equips teachers to critically evaluate the countless activities they encounter online and determine whether they are supported by research. It is an invaluable resource for both future and practicing teachers.” Z. Katkhouda, Elementary Teacher"The concepts in Ask Us are explained clearly, and the pop culture references make the content engaging, memorable, and genuinely enjoyable to read. Rather than feeling intimidating or overly academic, the book feels like being guided by experienced scholars who want readers to succeed. It remains one of the few professional resources I enjoyed reading from cover to cover." L. Walker, Teacher in training Read more