READING COMPREHENSION
for Middle School
Intentionally Different
Our 3-book Reading Comprehension series is intentionally different from the way reading comprehension has been taught in the past.
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For decades, teachers have been giving students passages to read and have been helping them predict outcomes, make inferences, draw conclusions, and identify main ideas.
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Yet, despite all this effort, students have not improved their ability to comprehend grade-level material. Repeating this standard approach simply results in greater frustration for both students and teachers.
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Our approach is different:
We use direct instruction to teach students all the components of language comprehension. This series gets the results educators have been striving for because we show students explicitly how to understand everything they read.
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Research Based
The Science of Reading provides a blueprint for effective reading instruction. Renowned researcher and literacy expert Dr. Hollis Scarborough identified key reading strands and created the Reading Rope to illustrate the interdependence of all the components involved in learning to read and comprehend.
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Every lesson in our 3-book series aligns with one of Dr. Scarborough's five Language Comprehension strands:
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Background Knowledge
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Vocabulary
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Language Structure
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Verbal Reasoning
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Literacy Knowledge
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Our Curriculum
In Reading Comprehension: Book One, students focus on how written language is structured. Students learn both syntax (the way in which words are put together to form sentences) and semantics (the meaning of words). Students receive explicit instruction on how to understand the purpose of every word in a sentence. The Teacher Guide explains how each lesson can be taught in different ways to meet the needs of individual students.
See samples 1 and 2.
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In Reading Comprehension: Book Two, students continue to develop their knowledge of language structure, shifting from how a sentence is organized to how a paragraph is put together. Students learn how transition words are used to link ideas and how to determine why the author wrote each paragraph.
See samples 3 and 4.
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In Reading Comprehension: Book Three, students review concepts from Book One and
Book Two, but do so using traditional terminology, including the nine main parts of speech. Students also review decoding skills to ensure they every student will be able to read the more difficult vocabulary found in high school curriculum.
See samples 5 and 6.
Samples
See samples of our curriculum below:
Components
Student Book:
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Consumable
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Includes lesson instruction and examples
Teacher Guide:
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Demonstrates why this approach is easy for students to understand
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Includes pacing guide
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Includes full-color answer key
Teacher Guide:
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Demonstrates why this approach is easy for students to understand
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Includes pacing guide
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Includes full-color answer key
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why should I use this comprehension series from Guth Learning?
Students who complete this curriculum find school easier and more enjoyable. The most effective way to ensure your child loves learning is to improve his/her reading comprehension skills. When students understand what they read, their desire to learn and achieve increases.
2. My child doesn’t like to read. Will this series help him?
Yes. Students who struggle with reading comprehension quickly lose all interest in reading. This series helps students develop new reading habits. We show passive readers (people who read - but don’t think about the meaning of the words as they read them) how to become active readers. Active readers enjoy reading and complete reading assignments more quickly than passive readers.
3. Should 8th graders start with Book Three?
No. The series should be taught in order. All students should start with Book One. Each book can be completed in one quarter, so it is possible for students beyond 6th grade to complete more than one book in an academic year.
4. Is this series appropriate for high school students?
Yes. This curriculum was written for middle school students AND any student who wants to improve reading skills and increase academic achievement.
Testimonials
More About Our Curriculum
Our Unique Approach
Scope and Sequence
