Melissa & Lori Love Literacy ® | Science of Reading for Teachers What the Research Says about Difficult Texts with Kristin Conradi Smith, John Strong, & Steve Amendum
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Jul 4, 2025 In this enlightening discussion, Kristin Conradi Smith, a reading motivation expert, John Strong, an associate professor specializing in informational texts, and Steve Amendum, a literacy complexity guru, tackle the importance of challenging texts in education. They clarify differences between text complexity and difficulty, emphasizing thoughtful scaffolding to help students thrive. The conversation highlights strategies for assessing diverse learners, the role of decodable texts, and the value of read-alouds in early grades, packed with insights to inspire educators.
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Use Text Sets for Scaffolding
- Use sets of related texts starting from easier to more difficult for scaffolding.
- Begin with interactive read-alouds to expose students to vocabulary and knowledge before independent reading.
Use Assessments to Differentiate Support
- Profile students using quality assessments to identify word recognition and comprehension needs.
- Differentiate scaffolds based on specific strengths and challenges of groups of students.
Differentiate Support Over Text Level
- Differentiate support rather than instructional level to help all students tackle complex texts.
- Provide targeted vocabulary, background knowledge, and discussion before, during, and after reading.
