Course Overview
Rigor in reading isn’t about the text — it’s about what the reader does with it. Beers and Probst surveyed over 2,000 teachers, identified the most popular books taught in grades 4–12, and read through them looking for common elements that crossed genres. They found many, then whittled them down to six Signposts: Contrasts and Contradictions, Aha Moments, Tough Questions, Words of the Wiser, Again and Again, and Memory Moments.
These six Signposts give students a concrete framework for close reading — a way to notice what matters in a text, ask the right questions, and engage with literature at a deeper level. You’ll learn the research behind each Signpost, see modeled lessons for teaching them, and walk away with practical strategies you can use to build more attentive, analytical, independent readers.
About the Authors
This is a graduate-level course intended for K–12 educators who have completed a bachelor’s degree. It is recommended that you receive board or district approval before registering with TPAI.
