"Comprehending what you've read is the goal of reading," Allington and Gabriel have written, and yet comprehension assessment and instruction can be one of the most challenging things for teachers to feel comfortable and confident with (2012). With a focus on goals, skills, and strategies, Jen will help participants understand how knowing some hallmarks of leveled texts can help them norm expectations for student written and verbal responses to fiction and nonfiction texts. She will talk about the role of knowing students completely and deeply in order to support their comprehension and match them to texts they'll love and understand. Jen will then show how knowing about texts and readers can help teachers to support student growth using a variety of teaching structures, including conferences and small groups.
