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Strengthening Reading Comprehension in Grades 4-12: Supporting Understanding in Upper Grades

  • Curriculum & Instruction
  • Literacy

Course Description

Course Description: In this fifteen-hour course, you will enhance your understanding of adolescent readers’ unique reading comprehension needs. Upper elementary, middle, and high-school educators will engage in activities and readings to prepare them to write effective comprehension lesson plans. Educators will learn evidence-based strategies for supporting comprehension, including setting a purpose, bolstering background knowledge, identifying barriers to comprehension, teaching text structures, and selecting vocabulary for pre-teaching. You will leave the course with a template designed specifically for use with adolescent readers.

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

Audience: Upper-elementary, middle school and high school teachers, special educators, specialists, interventionists, private tutors, and literacy coaches who have an earned bachelor’s degree.

Session Information

Nov 2 - Dec 7 2026
Course Schedule: All materials released to students on the first day of the course, November 2nd, 2026. Course work to be completed by December 7th, 2026.

Instructors

Leigh Buettler, M.Ed.
Instructor

Leigh Buettler, M.Ed.

Leigh Buettler, M.Ed.
Instructor

Leigh Buettler, M.Ed.

Leigh Buettler has been in the educational field for over fifteen years, beginning work as an adjunct lecturer at SUNY at Albany in the Women’s Studies department, where she also earned a B.A. and M.A. in the same field. In 2009, Leigh was accepted into the Teach for America NYC Corps, where Leigh taught middle school in Queens, New York and earned a Master of Science in Education at Fordham University. More recently, Leigh taught elementary school at Cortland Enlarged City School District, where she also served as an Instructional Coach focusing on Literacy Instruction. Leigh is also a National LETRS Professional Learning Facilitator, an independent contractor for the Cortland County Teacher Center, and a certified General Educator and Special Educator in grades 1-6.

Additional Content Area

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.

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The Center’s mission is to empower education professionals from the early years to grade 12 through access to rich learning opportunities.

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Castleton | Johnson | Lyndon | Randolph | Williston

124 Admin Drive, PO Box 500
Randolph Center, VT 05061

802.468.1325

CFS@VermontState.edu

vermontstate.edu