Shanahan on Literacy 8 Ways to Help Kids Read Complex Text
Jan 18, 2025
Teachers are shifting from teaching at students' instructional levels to focusing on grade-level texts. The discussion highlights the importance of challenging students with complex materials. Listeners learn effective strategies for supporting struggling readers, such as scaffolding and pre-teaching vocabulary. Engaging students becomes a key theme, emphasizing how to build their confidence and improve reading skills with appropriate support. A fresh perspective on literacy empowers educators to rethink traditional approaches.
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Use Easier Books for Struggling Decoders
- If students struggle with decoding like first graders, use easier books with high decodability to teach them.
- Provide substantial phonics and fluency training, about 30 minutes daily, for these students.
Use Grade-Level Text for Advanced Strugglers
- Place students reading at second or third grade levels in grade-level complex texts.
- This exposes them to mature content and allows real reading instruction to occur.
Vary Text Difficulty for Growth
- Vary the difficulty of texts, mixing harder and easier ones to build skill and confidence.
- Harder texts need more teacher support; easier texts allow practice and recognition of progress.