New Book Helps Teachers Empower Students to Become Proficient, Independent Readers

BLOOMINGTON, IN--(Marketwired - May 26, 2016) - Solution Tree, a premier educational publisher and professional development provider, has announced the release of Turning the Page on Complex Texts: Differentiated Scaffolds for Close Reading Instruction. This new book by Diane Lapp, Barbara Moss, Maria C. Grant, and Kelly Johnson presents practical teaching strategies designed to help K-12 ­students become proficient, independent, lifelong readers.

With the establishment of the Common Core State Standards, K-12 education has shifted to emphasize the importance of close reading in classroom practices. In Turning the Page on Complex Texts, the authors aim to support K-12 teachers in helping all readers become productive close readers. The authors explain how to select appropriate complex texts and how to design instruction to meet all students' needs. Throughout the book, they provide grade-specific classroom scenarios that illustrate how to scaffold lessons to foster close reading and deepen comprehension at all stages of K-12 education.

Summarizing the importance of the book for educators, Timothy Shanahan, distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago, claims, "Turning the Page on Complex Texts provides practical advice in how to guide students to read -- and to learn from -- complex texts. Instead of just moving students to an easier text as we have often done in the past, Lapp and her colleagues explain the text complexity mountain and show how students can be taught to climb it successfully. A must-read for teachers in the 21st century."

Sophie C. Degener, an associate professor in the Reading and Language Program at National Louis University, concurs with Shanahan: "For K-12 teachers trying to figure out exactly how to teach close reading, this is an amazing resource. The authors have provided step-by-step guidelines for planning, teaching, assessing, and differentiating close reading of complex fiction and informational texts. Most helpful are the detailed classroom scenarios, which will help teachers visualize how close reading looks across different grade levels and classroom settings."

Turning the Page on Complex Texts is now available at SolutionTree.com.

About the Authors

Diane Lapp, EdD, is a distinguished professor of education at San Diego State University and an English teacher and literacy coach at Health Sciences High and Middle College in San Diego. She has taught elementary and middle school grade levels.

Barbara Moss, PhD, is a professor at San Diego State University, where she teaches courses at the credential and master's levels. She has worked as a teacher at every grade level from 1 to 12 over the course of her career.

Maria C. Grant, EdD, is a professor in secondary education at California State University, Fullerton. She has authored numerous publications centered on science literacy, formative assessment, and reading.

Kelly Johnson, PhD, is a faculty member in teacher education at San Diego State University. She is also a classroom teacher at Health Sciences High and Middle College in San Diego.

About Solution Tree
Solution Tree delivers comprehensive professional development to schools and districts around the world. Solution Tree has empowered K-12 educators to raise student achievement through a wide range of services and products including educator conferences, customized district solutions for long-term professional development, books, videos, online courses and more.