Scaffolding Challenging Texts for All Readers with Christina Cover

Episode 231

Working with students who struggle to make sense of complex texts? You’re not alone! Christina Cover, a high school special educator, interventionist, English teacher, and literacy coordinator, is here to help! 

In this episode, Christina shares real-world, research-based strategies she uses to help her students break down and make sense of challenging texts. From her go-to routine Getting the Gist to building vocabulary and using morphology instruction in context, Christina walks us through what works in her classroom.

You’ll hear:

• How to support students in summarizing and understanding complex texts
• Why vocabulary and morphology matter so much for comprehension
• Ways to make test prep meaningful without sacrificing deeper reading
• How writing can be a powerful tool for reading comprehension

If you teach in grades 3 and up, this episode is full of tools and inspiration you can take straight back to your classroom.

Resources:

• Getting the G.I.S.T. 
• Word Matrices 
• Frayer Models 
• Collaborative Strategic Reading (CSR) 
• The Writing Revolution
• QFT: Question Formulation Technique
• Project for Adolescent Literacy:
•  email: pal@seekcommonground.org
   
  
  

We answer your questions about teaching reading in The Literacy 50-A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night.

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