Hal Lanse Book Spotlight and Author Interview

Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Adams Media (June 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 159869782X
ISBN-13: 978-1598697827

To purchase, click here.

Book Synopsis:

Millions of children struggle with reading-and even more struggle to understand exactly what they're reading. Read Well, Think Well will help you to teach your children to build the essential reading and comprehension skills they need to succeed in today's demanding school system. Teacher trainer and literacy specialist Hal W. Lanse, Ph.D., provides the necessary knowledge, strategies, and exercises that will turn your kids into first-rate readers and thinkers.

Learn how to:

Choose the best, age-appropriate reading material
Boost your child's memory and retention skills through verbal and visual exercises
Utilize technology aids to help your child understand the comprehension process
Understand the "Big Six" of reading comprehension through analysis and summary of the text
Promote values for everyday life through reading Read Well, Think Well-the ultimate guide to secure your child's academic success.

Questions for the author:

Who has influenced you throughout your career as a writer?

My biggest influence is the children I teach. I see my writing as an extension of my teaching career. Everything I write is for children, their parents and teachers.

Do you write everyday?

No, I’m a project-oriented person. I write when I have a particular task to complete: a book, a blog entry, an informational packet, etc.

What has been your greatest achievement as a writer?

Getting through last summer. My editor gave me two months to complete the entire manuscript of READ WELL, THINK WELL. I spent the summer chained to my desk. The Chinese take-out guy is practically family now—LOL.

Have you always wanted to be a writer, or did you aspire to be something else growing up?

Growing up I wanted to be Commando Cody so that I could do battle with the Radar Men from the Moon. At various points along the way I also wanted to be a rabbit, a cartoonist, an actor and Dracula.

Are you currently working on anything?

I’ve launched my new blog which can be reached through a link on my website: http://www.readwllthinkwell.com/. My publisher just asked that I submit a proposal for a new book, so I might be working on WRITE WELL, THINK WELL very soon.

What authors do you enjoy reading?

I LOVE young adult novels. I read them and recommend them to my students. My favorite authors include Garth Nix (recommended to me by a very bright seventh grader), Stephanie Meyers, Sebastian Rook, Libba Bray, Scott Westerfeld and Gary Paulsen. Currently, I’m having a blast reading Robert Muchamore’s teen spy series: CHERUB. I think younger children should read every picture book written by Gail Gibbons. Her books will give children broad vocabularies and vast amounts of background knowledge (knowledge of the world.) Her illustrations are incredible.

Is there a particular author/s (yourself excluded) who you feel don't get the recognition they deserve?

I think NIGHTJOHN by Gary Paulsen should be required reading for all children. It drives home the reality of slavery and the immense value of education. We have a national flag and a national anthem. NIGHTJOHN should be our national book.

What is your favorite book?

There are so many books that I love. One I’ve reread dozens of times is JANE EYRE. It was very popular with the students in an adult literacy course I once taught.

What is a book that has been highly acclaimed but you haven't liked?

I thought THE DA VINCI CODE started off well but got silly. All that business about fertility rites was just ridiculous. And the characters, in my opinion, had no depth.

What word or phrase do you feel is overused?

I hate hearing teachers say “the kids are off the hook” when they mean“the kids are off the wall.” I also hate it because those words are usually spoken by teachers who take no responsibility for developing good classroom management skills.

About the author:

Hal W. Lanse, Ph.D., is a premiere teacher trainer in New York City, specializing in middle-grade and young-adult literacy. He is the winner of the 1997 Frank W. Dilley Award, Walden University's annual prize for outstanding doctoral dissertation. Dr. Lanse, a consultant with the UFT Teacher Center, trains teachers in current literacy research and shows them how to turn the research into daily classroom practice. He has also taught many parent workshops for the United Federation of Teachers. Lanse lives with his teenage son, Kenny, in New York, NY.

Thanks again to Pump Up Your Book Promotion for hosting this author on his Virtual Book Tour!

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