Expanding Reading Comprehension in Grades 3–6

“What a wonderful resource for preservice and practicing classroom teachers! Each chapter addresses essential aspects of reading instruction, based on the best possible evidence about how students build comprehension and the instructional practices that support them on the journey. Stahl and García offer practical guidance related to challenging issues, such as how to select texts for intermediate-grade students, prepare them for reading in different disciplines, and organize discussions that deepen students’ thinking about text. The book is filled with helpful resources, templates, and examples. Importantly, the authors foreground the linguistic and cultural diversity of contemporary classrooms, offering a multitude of strategies for planning instruction that meets the needs of all students.”

—Gina N. Cervetti, PhD, School of Education, University of Michigan


“Content literacy, disciplinary literacy, real-world applications of how to teach students in the middle grades—this book has it all! Decades of research and theory are translated into practical classroom strategies. School leaders and classroom teachers in English language arts, science, and social studies can use this book to guide their planning for integrated curriculum design, resulting in unit and lesson plans that serve all students. Tips for how to best serve English learners are given throughout the chapters. The strategies presented are program-agnostic, yet ensure that high-quality instruction permeates middle-grade classrooms.”

—Caitlin McMunn Dooley, PhD, State Deputy Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, Georgia


“The book demonstrates the passion and expertise of the authors, who are committed to integrating the content areas and literacy for all students, including multilingual learners. Educators are guided to use literacy strategies to simultaneously develop content knowledge and comprehension, and to adapt instruction based on students’ English language proficiency. Classroom vignettes and examples make the theories and research come to life. The book is user friendly, as the authors share a treasure trove of ideas and resources for classroom instruction.”

—Okhee Lee, PhD, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University