Multimedia Text Sets: A How-To Guide

There are many examples of text sets online, but you may want to build or adapt your own to meet the needs of your students. If you are just getting started, build a text set that meets your learning goals and incorporates texts that complement one another.

Step 1: Determine the learning goal

Define what students should learn from the text set. Consider the standards you will teach with your topic.

Step 2: Choose a target text

The end goal is for students to read a target text that meets your learning goal. However, this text may be challenging for some students if the text is too complex, due to gaps in prior knowledge, or if students don’t think the topic is relevant to their lives.

Your target text could be a work of literature or nonfiction, a textbook chapter, or a primary source document. The target text should be challenging, somewhat above grade level.

Step 3: Identify related resources

To make the target text accessible, plan at least three related sources to support learning: a visual text, an informational text, and an accessible text.

• Audio, video, or images: Video, music, podcast, or photos that introduce the central theme are a good way to begin because it helps build background knowledge and vocabulary without requiring reading.
• Informational text: Choose at least two additional texts to add background information. Choose a text that is slightly below grade level and at least one more that may near/at grade level for your students. Having a variety of texts available gives students more choices for reading.
• Accessible texts: These texts connect the topic to student’s lives and help them see why the information is relevant. An accessible text might be an excerpt from a novel, current events article, or a webpage or blog. Choose a text that allows students to make connections between the topic and their own lives.

See more about text sets from the Iowa Research Center: Filling the Gaps: Text Sets Build Background Knowledge and Improve Comprehension of Informational Texts (opens in a new window)

1. Determine the target text(s)

2. Choose audio, video, or images to introduce the topic

3. Choose informational text(s) at or near grade level

4. Choose informational text(s) below grade level

5. Select a picture, trade, or chapter book for listening

6. Think about how you will introduce the topic and plan ways for students to respond before, during, and after each text. Here are a few ideas to get you started.  

• New York Times Text to Text: Multi-genre text sets and links to multimedia resources
• Newsela: Nonfiction text sets by topic with options to vary text readability
• Text Sets: Building Knowledge and Vocabulary (opens in a new window): Lessons using a volume of reading on specific topics to support all learners in building background knowledge and vocabulary (Achieve the Core) 
• PBS Learning Media: Multimedia resources by subject, grade level, and standard
• Library of Congress Primary Source Sets: Find primary multimedia sources organized by theme
• Smithsonian Tween Tribune: Nonfiction texts by grade level and text readability