4Cs that Guarantee High Interest Reading

Literacy Geeks uses a simple formula when making text selections for our reading solutions. Before I get into those details, I would like to review Literacy Geeks' reading solutions suite.

• Solution 1: Adaptive, student-centered reading programs and reading assessments
• Solution 2: Complete, classroom reading lessons with high interest texts and engaging learning routines that explicitly teach reading, speaking, and writing skills
• Solution 3: Vertically aligned, classroom-ready teaching materials for explicitly teaching reading, speaking, and writing skills with the texts teachers love to teach

Contact support@literacygeeks.com when you are ready to learn more about any of these solutions.

Now, let's "Geek-out" about how to choose texts our students will love. Our formula is simple, and it can be used by teachers to help select highly engaging texts to read with their students.

The 4Cs

Although Literacy Geeks uses a dozen lens and criteria when selecting a text for students to read, there is a simple formula that will always lead to high interest reading. We call them the 3Cs.

Connection

Connection is about relatability. Can students relate to the topic, the message, the argument, the experience, and the language. Yes, the language. When we pick archaic texts, students struggle to connect to the text even if it is about love, friendship, or betrayal. We must remember that students' experiences are much broader than these simple themes. Students need to see their experiences in the text. They need to see their passions celebrated. Their cultures acknowledged. Their interests and curiosities peaked. They also want to understand the world that they are currently living in. Which brings us to our next C. 

Current

Students are naturally curious about what is current because that is what is relevant to them right now. Anything new will define their generation. It is what they are most connected to. Take eBikes for example. Bring in our texts about eBikes and watch student engagement skyrocket! Whether they have one or not, there is a lot to know and talk about when it comes to this new mode of personal transportation. To be clear, not all texts should be current, but watch how student engagement and discussions change (dare I say, improve) when students are asked to read something that are seeing or experiencing today.

Controversy

Students, like adults, can get fired up about a good controversy. Picking a controversy that isn't too controversial is the trick. It used to be said: "No drugs, sex, and rock-and-roll." Well, those still apply, but now we need to add politics, religion, and anything that might raise your grandma's brow. In reality, there are plenty of controversial topics that we can bring into the classroom. Just know your audience...and their parents. If a topic is too sensitive, pick another one. Remember, the goal is to teach higher-level skills. If we want to teach students to be better readers, speakers, and writers, we need to engage them. Bringing in controversial topics is a great way to do this!

Complex

Text complexity is a great lens to use when selecting a text. If you are thinking, "Yes! My texts are so hard! My students will love them." Think again. When we say "complex," we are thinking "intricate," "nuanced," and "sophisticated." More simply, "complexity" in our world is a type of text that we can use to teach specific academic skills. Its complexity is determined by what it offers.

Let's dig a little deeper. Content is not the concern here. We want to select texts that can be used to teach specific writing skills. Think of it like a mentor text. If we want students to use cause and effect relationships in their writing, we should use texts that show students how writers do this type of work. When you ask students to analyze how a writer constructs meaning, their brains turn on. The students are motivated by the analytical nature of the reading task. Engagement goes up because they begin to understand that writers make decisions while they write. This is inherently interesting. No, not because we are "Geeks." It's because the brain likes solving puzzles. It enjoys learning how to get from one place to another. Therefore, if we increase text complexity, we increase cognitive engagement.

What are some topics that hit all four Cs

• Girls' High School Flag Football
• eBikes
• Smart Watches in School
• School Lunches and the Explosion of Plastics
• Modern Robots and Robotics
• Private Space Travel
• Anything Elon Musk

Purposefully selecting texts is pivotal in engaging students. Connecting with students' experiences and interests, embracing current events, introducing suitable controversies, and offering complex materials all contribute to making reading more engaging. When students feel a personal and academic connection to what they read, they become more motivated and involved, enhancing their learning experience and overall academic success.