The International Reading Association has just posted new reading guidelines that encourage teachers to vary student text samples.  The current Common Core Standards focus on end results, but do not give specific guidelines for which texts to teach. Lessons should include a variety of texts and provide various levels of difficulty to offer students the opportunity to focus on meaning.  Testing results demonstrate that teachers should create lessons that include “gradual release of  responsibility.”  It is helpful to note that all texts do not have to be challenging. Read more