This column provides an overview of the Common Core text exemplars and gives examples of ways teachers can group text exemplars and other trade books in ways that will support middle graders' understanding of complex texts. Building background by supplementing text exemplars with other titles is particularly emphasized. Suggestions for grouping…

The author of this article observes that sometimes educators are so overwhelmed by the needs of struggling learners that they believe they do not have time for the gifted, talented, high achieving, and high potential students. However, those students are just as desperate as any other students for good teachers to help them progress. Middle school…