How to Make Deep Sense of Informational Text (Gwen Pauloski)
“If students can’t read to learn, they can’t learn through reading.”
In this episode of the podcast, I talk with Gwen Pauloski, author of Making Deep Sense of Informational Text: A Framework for Strengthening Comprehension in Grades 6–12.
We dig into why every teacher—not just ELA—needs to see themselves as a literacy teacher.
Gwen shares her four pillars for helping adolescents make sense of complex texts: 1️⃣ Rebuilding confidence and “reading esteem” 2️⃣ Teaching comprehension strategies explicitly 3️⃣ Engaging students in scholarly talk 4️⃣ Guiding deep text study through pre-, during-, and post-reading work.
We also talk about practical scaffolds like Cornell Notes, annotation strategies, and discussion protocols that keep students thinking deeply instead of skimming for answers.
🔗 Listen to the full episode below to hear how you can help students move from “just reading” to truly understanding what they read.
Making Deep Sense of Informational Text
Music by Aylex