Make Sure They Understand: Supporting Reading Comprehension in Adolescent Learners, Buettler, Spring 2026

Course Number:	EDX 5710 S60
Instructor:	Leigh Buettler, M.Ed.
Location:	Online synchronously and asynchronously
Dates and Times:	March 2 - March 30, 2026
Credits:	1 Graduate Credit
Tuition:	Set by and payable to educational partner The Stern Center for Language & Learning

Course Description

This one-credit course equips upper elementary, middle, and high school educators with practical, research-based strategies to strengthen reading comprehension in adolescent learners. Drawing on current literacy research and an understanding of adolescent development, the course explores how to support diverse learners in deepening their comprehension of complex texts across content areas.

Through engaging readings, reflection activities, and examples from practice, participants will examine how to:

set authentic purposes for reading
build background knowledge
directly address common comprehension barriers
teach text structures
select vocabulary for pre-teaching

The course culminates in the creation of an effective, adaptable comprehension lesson plan that integrates course strategies and can be tailored to meet the needs of your students.

Additionally, as part of the course, participants will schedule a personalized, live, virtual coaching session. This one-hour one-on-one session provides dedicated time to receive targeted support tailored to your unique instructional context and student needs. During the session, you can:

discuss specific comprehension challenges you’re seeing with your students
get feedback on your developing lesson plan or instructional strategies
review material or work samples to inform next steps
explore ways to adapt course strategies for your grade level, content area, or learner population
ask questions, troubleshoot implementation barriers, and reflect on your learning

This course is ideal for educators working with students in grades 4–12, including classroom teachers, special educators, reading specialists, literacy coaches, private tutors, and interventionists.

Audience: Upper Elementary, Middle, and High-School Educators with an earned Bachelor’s Degree.

Course Goals & Objectives

Course Goals: Investigate, reflect on, and enhance the implementation of effective instructional strategies that support adolescent reading comprehension in a manner that is consistent with current research on improving student outcomes.

Course Objectives:

Articulate key concepts regarding adolescent reading comprehension
Evaluate one’s instructional practice against current research
Apply learning by creating an effective comprehension lesson plan

Required Readings/Resources

All readings, videos, podcasts, and other recommended resources are included in the cost of this course. All resources will be shared via Google.

Readings include:

Sedita, J. (2023, October 4). Motivating & Engaging Adolescents to Read. Keys to Literacy. https://keystoliteracy.com/blog/motivating-engaging-adolescents-to-read/

Shanahan, T. (2020, June 6). Planning Lessons with Complex Text. Shanahan on Literacy. https://www.shanahanonliteracy.com/blog/planning-lessons-with-complex-text

Dr. Lily Wong Fillmore. (n.d.). Juicy sentence guidance. https://achievethecore.org/content/upload/Juicy%20Sentence%20Guidance.pdf

Eisenman, Jenny. (2023, September 1). Why diversity and equity in content matters for reading growth. NASSP. https://www.nassp.org/2021/06/08/why-diversity-and-equity-in-contentmatters-for-reading-growth/

For additional course information

Leigh Buettler

(802) 276-8783

For additional registration information

Center for Schools Team

(802) 468-1325