Is oral reading important? "Absolutely," assert Michael Opitz and Timothy Rasinski, "so important that we must put it into perspective and use it in the most effective and efficient ways possible." Opitz and Rasinski have written this book to help teachers do just that. Their aim is to show where oral reading fits in the reading program and share twenty-five of the best strategies for helping children learn to read aloud.

Good-bye Round Robin is the first book of its kind, offering teachers a new alternative to traditional round robin reading—an outmoded practice that more often prohibits rather than facilitates the ability to read. The book is completely research based, demonstrating how to use oral reading to help students develop comprehension, share information, and discover effective reading strategies.

All of the activities are categorized and easy to locate. For each technique, the authors provide a grade level, description, teaching procedures, suggested children's literature, classroom scenarios, and additional ideas for extending the activity. A separate chapter on oral reading as a tool for assessment provides specific strategies and guidelines teachers can use along with many reproducible forms. There are also separate chapters on teaching struggling readers and working with parents.

According to the authors, silent reading should remain the mainstay of an effective reading program, but there are times when oral reading is also important. Children need both types of reading experiences to ensure that comprehension occurs. Following the strategies outlined in this book, preservice and inservice elementary teachers can be certain they are truly helping children meet this goal.