About this Website
The history
Eight years ago I assigned a novelette to my eleventh grade American Literature class, leading to the following exchange with a student:
Student: “I don’t get it.”
Me: “What don’t you get?”
Student: “All of it.”
Me: “Did you read it?”
He had. But he went on to explain that he never “gets” it.
I knew how to teach him to analyze the author’s use of allegory, but I had no idea how to teach him to comprehend the story. The realization shocked me.
Up to that point, I was operating under the assumption that reading instruction was only taught in elementary school. I had to figure out how to fix my shortcoming, so the following summer I read Why Kids Can’t Read by Kylene Beers. When I finished, I knew I needed to learn more. That is why I decided to pursue a degree in Reading and Literacy.
This website is for the other English teachers like me, who need to reach the kids who "just don't get it."
Student: “I don’t get it.”
Me: “What don’t you get?”
Student: “All of it.”
Me: “Did you read it?”
He had. But he went on to explain that he never “gets” it.
I knew how to teach him to analyze the author’s use of allegory, but I had no idea how to teach him to comprehend the story. The realization shocked me.
Up to that point, I was operating under the assumption that reading instruction was only taught in elementary school. I had to figure out how to fix my shortcoming, so the following summer I read Why Kids Can’t Read by Kylene Beers. When I finished, I knew I needed to learn more. That is why I decided to pursue a degree in Reading and Literacy.
This website is for the other English teachers like me, who need to reach the kids who "just don't get it."
This page synthesizes the major research into adolescent reading comprehension.
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Before You TeachThis page gives you information on how to structure reading strategy lessons.
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Read-AloudsThis page gives you ideas for good read-alouds for teens!
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Strategy LessonsVisit the other pages for great lesson ideas based on reading research from people like Beers, Allen, and many more!
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Photo used under Creative Commons from pmsyyz