Who would have thought that there were so many ways to read a book? The Sunflower, the Sleepwalker, the Classic, the Drifter, the Night Owl, and even the Octopus …
There is no research showing that books are superior to excerpts (or vice versa) in developing reading ability. Schools can combine both excerpts and whole books in their ELA instruction — fostering both depth and breadth.
Rather than reducing text demands, we should offer instructional and emotional supports that build comprehension and motivation — be positive and encouraging and focus reading lessons on texts worth reading.
