Mastering the Text Complexity Challenge in Grades 4-8

(Grades 4-8) / Flex Course

PDI Course Number: 46T02 / UCSD Course Number: EDUC41603

Course Description

Are you struggling to help your students master text complexity for your grade level? This online course is designed for teachers of grades four through eight who are interested in learning the best practices for helping their students master text complexity. This course covers strategies for implementing the Common Core State Standards in reading literature and informational texts. Teachers will learn strategies for assessing text complexity, asking and answering text-dependent questions, using textual evidence, teaching important Common Core-related vocabulary building strategies, and helping students learn how to read closely. Teachers will learn the importance of increasing vocabulary to assist students in comprehending complex text. Finally, teachers will learn strategies for helping students explore theme and author’s message in a variety of genres. This course is worth 3 ⅓ semester units/5 quarter units (50 hours of training) from UC San Diego Extension. For detailed information on university credit, click here.

"I felt that the content and resources are very applicable to what I am doing in my classroom right now! I GREATLY appreciate that about PDI courses, it is hands-on and ties in with real instruction! I feel that I can use everything immediately" - Amy Bork

Required Resource Book

This course has a modestly-priced required resource book (available in both new and used versions) that can be purchased through Amazon using the following link. Note that you can begin and participate in your course before the book arrives.

Text Complexity: Raising Rigor in Reading by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and Diane Lapp

If you are registering for multiple courses, use the following link to access the book list for all PDI courses with direct purchase links through Amazon. PDI Course Resource Book List