As a director of social studies programs in teacher education for almost 20 years, it is very promising to read practical pedagogical pieces of work like Don K. Philpot's Reading Actively in Middle Grades Social Stuides: Teachers and Students in Action. Philpot is able to take (action!) on the extremely difficult and daunting task of authentically and authoritatively blending the social studies with an everyday subject like reading, turning it into a compelling read that I shall recommend to my fellow colleagues.

Jeffrey M. Hawkins, EdD, Director of Social Studies Education; Associate Professor of Urban Education, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

If you’re a middle school social studies teacher looking for instructional ideas that support students as they read to learn in your discipline, this is the text for you. Philpot’s classroom examples illustrate the reading process in action by demonstrating how to engage student interest, how to address student struggles, and how to promote learning for all, as they participate in whole class and small group instructional contexts.

Diane Lapp, EdD, Distinguished Professor of Education, San Diego State University and Instructional Coach, Health Sciences High & Middle College

Middle level educators realize the need to connect reading strategies and thinking across disciplines. This text not only provides theory and strategies with specific examples based on social studies teachers' work with content standards, there is also a deep connection to planning and assessing student learning.

Every social studies teacher needs both literacy and strategies for presenting social studies content. Philpot shares exemplary samples, rationales, and tools for planning engaging lessons. This text bridges social studies planning with a thorough connection to reading practices that enhance deeper thinking.

I loved how this book integrates practical reading theory and strategies with social studies lessons. In addition, the focus on intentional, rich lesson planning provides students with multiple opportunities to engage in social studies content blends what we know about the learning needs of young adolescents. Philpot gives social studies teachers multiple tools to engage young adolescents.

Nancy Ruppert, professor, University of North Carolina at Asheville

Don Philpot’s book, Reading Actively in Middle Grade Social Studies: Teachers and Students in Action, explains before, during, and after processes used in reading social studies texts. Social studies teachers stand to learn a lot about vocabulary, linguistic elements, text structure, and other aspects of texts that will help them help their students read for understanding. If you are a social studies teacher with students who struggle to read the textbooks in your classes, this book is for you.

Cynthia Shanahan, Professor Emerita in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Illinois at Chicago

Educators are always looking for relevant and interesting work that will challenge students to think beyond the ordinary. A work that should find its way into every classroom.

India Meissel, 2018-2019 President of National Council for the Social Studies