Tim Shanahan: How Teachers Can Help Students Read Complex Texts Without “Dumbing It Down”

Guest:
Dr. Tim Shanahan, literacy researcher, author of Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives, and founder of the UIC Center for Literacy.

Episode Summary:
Dr. Shanahan joins John to discuss why students must engage with grade-level, complex texts—and how teachers can scaffold instruction instead of lowering text difficulty. He explains practical ways to support struggling readers while maintaining rigor and motivation.

Key Takeaways:

• Match instruction—not text level—to student needs.

• Use rereading, chunking, and guided practice to build comprehension.

• Pre-teach critical vocabulary and model how to decode complex sentences.

• Replace “popcorn reading” with safe, paired fluency work.

• Teach morphology and word structure beyond early grades.

• Keep students reading on grade level to close, not widen, learning gaps.

Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives Book (Harvard Education Press)

Blog: Shanahan on Literacy

Tim Shanahan LinkedIn Page

Music by Aylex