As education professionals work to incorporate scientific, evidence-based practices into reading instruction, one thing is clear: sound decisions depend on a solid understanding of what the research says. This book brings together all the information readers need in a single volume. A masterful synthesis of information from leading experts in the field, this accessible resource helps school administrators, educators, and specialists answer complex questions about scientifically based reading research and make informed choices about teaching practices. Readers will: learn how to read research literature, judge its value, apply it to practice, and recognize common myths about scientific research; review the essential findings of the National Reading Panel report on Teaching Children to Read and examine up-to-the-minute research information about phonics and phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension; find research-based explorations of practical classroom issues, such as preparing teachers to implement research findings, keeping students motivated, and helping students with reading disabilities; learn about current brain research and neuroimaging and its influence on reading; and discover how reading research informs educational policy and get reliable information on current legislation. Required reading for all professionals whose work deals with reading instruction, this book gives readers the clear, detailed information they need about one of today's most critical topics in early education. This book contains the following sections: (1) Overview; (2) Reading Research that Provides Evidence: The Methods; (3) Evidence-Based Practices that Teachers Are Asked to Implement; (4) Reading Research Evidence in the Classroom; (5) Neuroimaging and Brain Research; and (6) Policy and Research: Where Are We Today and Where Are We Going? An index is included.