Shift 2: Text Complexity

In order to prepare students for the complexity of college and career-ready texts, each grade level requires growth in text complexity Appendix A, pp. 5-17). Students read the central, grade-appropriate text around which instruction is centered (see exemplars and sample tasks, Appendix B). Teachers create more time in the curriculum for close and careful reading and provide appropriate and necessary supports to make the central text accessible to students reading below grade level.

Awareness & Understanding

Learn About Text Complexity

View Video

• Introduction to Text Complexity    
• Complex Text and Its Implications in the Classroom    
  

• Read "The Challenge of Challenging Text"    
  This article, written by Timothy Shanahan, Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey, appeared in Educational Leadership.
• Read about Text Complexity in Appendix A   12/29/2011 (208.10 KB)
• Explore Quantitative Lexile Measures    
  Choose a piece of grade-level text you use in your classroom. Use The Lexile Analyzer® to submit text to determine the Lexile measure. NOTE: Save the document you want analyzed as a plain text file (.txt). Then submit. More information about Lexiles can be found on the Lexiles in Oregon page.

Explore the CCSS for Literacy

• Take a look at the CCSS for Literacy in your subject area.
• History/Social Studies    
• Science and Technical Subjects    
  

• Become familiar with the Speaking and Listening Standards

CCSS Speaking and Listening Standards Grades 6-12   07/25/2012 (352.13 KB)

Transition

Learn About Text Complexity in the Classroom

• View 6-12 Content Teacher PowerPoint Session 3: Text Complexity    
  This is the third of six sessions in Module 1: Common Core Instruction for ELA & Literacy. Module 1 explains the unique Common Core emphasis—teaching students literacy skills in English Language Arts (ELA) and to apply them in every other subject.
• Review CCSS Classroom Snapshot on Text Complexity   06/21/2012 (131.94 KB)
  From "K-12 Teachers: Building Comprehension in the Common Core"

• Read about text complexity and instructional materials
  From "Publisher's Criteria for the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts & Literacy"

• View the webinar focused on sharing tools and resources to support teachers and districts on text complexity.    
  

Contacts

• Karin Moscon     (503) 947-5706
  Secondary/Post Secondary Transitions - Education Program Specialist, CTE Civil Rights