Unlocking Complex Texts: A Systematic Framework for Building Adolescents' Comprehension

Give students the tools they need to tackle complex texts with these research-based, classroom-tested lessons from master teacher Laura Robb. The three-part system—teacher modeling, guided practice, independent practice—scaffolds students as they learn how to preview a text to build background knowledge; use a concept map to expand vocabulary; identify key details and make logical inferences; determine main ideas and themes; analyze characters, events, and ideas; interpret language; analyze text structure, and more! Includes 46 short texts on CD for modeling and practice, along with text-specific discussion questions, multiple-choice assessments, writing tasks, student response sheets, assessment tools, and if-then scaffolding charts to help teachers support struggling and reluctant learners. The rigorous instruction leads to solid text-based comprehension of literary and informational text. A must have for meeting the CCSS! For use with Grades 5 & Up.

Laura Robb is the author of several best-selling professional books and resources, including Differentiating Reading Instruction, Teaching Reading in Middle School, and Teaching Reading: A Differentiated Approach. A teacher and consultant with more than 40 years experience in the classroom, she currently leads in-service workshops in diverse settings all over the country, writes extensively, and presents regularly at literacy conferences. She lives in Winchester, Virginia.