Episode
S03E14 - Close Reading Simplified with Christopher Such
- Podcast
- Knowledge for Teachers
- Published
- Aug 23, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 5262
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Summary
In this episode, Brendan Lee is joined once again by Christopher Such—teacher, author, and one of the most practical voices in reading instruction. His new book, Primary Reading Simplified, takes the research on how children learn to read and shows us what it actually looks like in the classroom. This conversation zooms in on one of the trickiest areas for teachers: close reading. Chris explains why it doesn’t need to feel intimidating, how to plan lessons that spark genuine discussion, and the misconceptions that often trip schools up. He also shares three simple reading lesson structures that can bring clarity and balance to your literacy block, along with practical tips for asking purposeful questions that help students think more deeply about texts. If you’ve ever wondered how to make close reading purposeful, achievable, and enjoyable, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to make it work. Resources mentioned: Primary Reading Simplified (Christopher Such’s latest book) The Art and Science of Teaching Primary Reading (Christopher Such’s earlier book) Bringing Words to Life by Beck, McKeown, and Kucan Scarborough’s Reading Rope The Reading Comprehension Blueprint by Nancy Hennessy The Writing Revolution by Judith Hochman and Natalie Wexler Reading Reconsidered by Doug Lemov, Colleen Driggs, and Erica Woolway The EEF (Education Endowment Foundation) Guidance Report on Improving Literacy Timothy Shanahan Timothy Rasinski Aidan Chambers You can connect with Chris: Twitter: @Suchmo83 Linkedin Website: https://primarycolour.home.blog/ You can connect with Brendan: Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee Facebook: @learningwithmrlee Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft Website: learnwithlee.net Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeach…