Guest:
Dr. Tim Shanahan, literacy researcher, author of Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives, and founder of the UIC Center for Literacy.
Episode Summary:
Dr. Shanahan joins John to discuss why students must engage with grade-level, complex texts—and how teachers can scaffold instruction instead of lowering text difficulty. He explains practical ways to support struggling readers while maintaining rigor and motivation.
Key Takeaways:
•
Match instruction—not text level—to student needs.
•
Use rereading, chunking, and guided practice to build comprehension.
•
Pre-teach critical vocabulary and model how to decode complex sentences.
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Replace “popcorn reading” with safe, paired fluency work.
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Teach morphology and word structure beyond early grades.
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Keep students reading on grade level to close, not widen, learning gaps.
Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives Book (Harvard Education Press) (https://amzn.to/3WwlaZv)
Blog: Shanahan on Literacy
Tim Shanahan LinkedIn Page (https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-shanahan-682a185/)
Music by Aylex
