Reading complex text is an anchor standard for Ohio's Learning Standards for English Language Arts. In previous lessons, you learned more about what complex text is and how to choose the best text for your students. Shanahan also reminds educators that it is important to support readers with scaffolds in Tier 1 instruction. Text sets are a tool to scaffold readers, building the skills necessary to read complex text.
As a reminder, the Simple View of Reading and Scarborough's Rope illustrate what students need to master to become fluent readers with automaticity.
Text sets help build language comprehension skills for readers, developing:
Text sets build a foundation for college and career readiness by connecting texts focused on a specific topic. The sets can include various genres and media presented in a certain order. The texts are accompanied by activities and strategies that build comprehension skills, especially background knowledge, and vocabulary. The texts also prepare students for a more complex anchor text. The Fordham Institute article titles What are Text Sets, and Why Use Them in the Classroom reminds educators that "prior knowledge of a topic has a greater impact on reading comprehension than generalized reading ability."
Text sets can be used for a variety of reasons and look different according to the goals of the set and its readers. Consider the following examples and their frameworks.
This text set for middle-grade students uses texts from the Library of Congress to scaffold Christopher Paul Curtis's novel The Watsons Go to Birmingham. It uses primary documents, including photos and videos, to build background knowledge about the Civil Rights Movement. The topic is presented as an inquiry question and looks specifically at young people's role during the historical period.
Universal Design for Learning is an approach to ensure all students' needs are met. This text set relies on multimedia to support all types of learners. The multimedia used in the text set provides multiple representations to build an understanding of the topic. All learners will benefit from a variety of forms including videos, simulations, articles, and podcasts.
English language learners also will benefit from text sets. In this example, the instructor not only scaffolds approaches to text, but also builds contexts that motivate students to learn. The text set is presented as an alternative to passive strategies, including round-robin or lectures. This example is based on the Quad Text Set.
Quad Text Set Framework
This framework begins with three specifically selected texts, charts, graphics, or videos that lead to a more challenging target text. The texts build scaffolds, motivating students by developing background knowledge and vocabulary to understand the topic and tackle the target text. Quad Text Sets are built with four texts:
In this framework, the order of the texts is important. Students begin with an engaging text, one that hooks readers and is at or slightly below grade level. The next text can be multimedia—a diagram, video, or infographic. Multimedia is appropriate for the third text also, as long as it supports the readers' understanding of the topic. The final text is complex—perhaps it is a textbook chapter or a reading from the district curriculum. The first three texts and the activities that accompany them prepare the reader for this challenging text.
INFOhio has created several text sets using the Quad Text Set Framework. These text sets use the quality text available from INFOhio's licensed and purchased digital content. Choose the grade level most appropriate for your students and review the teacher guide as well.
The next lesson will explain more about the INFOhio Text Sets and how to create your own.
Review at least one of the sample text sets linked above. In the Discussions tab of the High-Quality Instructional Materials for Each Child Open Space, look for the post Text Sets and answer these questions.
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