Engaging with Complex Text

What is this and why is it important?

Engaging with grade-level complex text every day is a very important part of learning to read and write. Each day, students should engage with complex text by reading or listening. When students engage with grade-level texts, they:

There are many parts that make a text complex, including vocabulary, spelling, length of sentences, organization, topics and concepts, and the types of pictures or charts used. Key features of grade-level text include:

• new and different vocabulary to build word knowledge which is important for all students, and especially multilingual learners, and
• varied topics, cultures, writing styles, and points of view to support students in understanding themselves and the world around them.

Important notes about instruction with grade-level complex text:

• The teacher supports students to read or hear (through teacher read-aloud) and all students then have the opportunity to talk and write about the grade-level text.
• Talking and writing about a story that they just read (or heard) gives students practice with the new vocabulary, information, and ideas they are learning.
• As early readers increase their ability to decode words and understand their meaning, they read grade-level complex text on their own, in addition to teacher read-aloud.

Here are two classroom video examples of what working with complex text might look like, including opportunities to use new vocabulary and information, and to talk and write about the text.

What can I do to learn more and to support engaging with complex text at home? Check out some of these resources as a starting point.

What are some questions I can ask my child's school or teacher to learn more about engaging with complex text at school?

• What are some of the stories and books my child has been reading and/or hearing this year?

• What are some of the topics my child is learning about through the stories, articles, and books used in lessons?

• What kinds of questions can I ask to spark conversation about the topics my child is reading about?

• What should my child know and be able to talk about because of what they have read?

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Last Updated: September 25, 2024