It all starts with a good book.
Whole books draw students into a story that is worth paying attention to.
The reader wants to know what happens next and the more they read the book, the more energy they are willing to invest in keeping up with the story.
We select especially engaging books with rich, complex text and divide them into sections (often matching the author’s chapters)—each section presenting its own satisfying narrative. Scroll horizontally through the sections of each book below.
In the corner, a woman was crying so hard that it seemed her bones would break from her convulsions...
Every day, Ness…
Four activities guide students to read and enjoy each section.
Activities challenge students to read selected passages particularly carefully.
Hard work on these passages rewards students with insight into the book that they can share with classmates. With each new section, students practice the same four skills, becoming more skillful and independent readers as they move through the book.
Riveting Results provides the way into the text.
Program design and content are based on thirty years of classroom research and on the latest in the science of reading. The program divides each book into around 15 sections that students read carefully in class.
What do students do?
- Listen to a professional actor read the passage.
- Select sentence(s) to practice reading aloud.
- Rehearse by following the software’s guidance.
- Record at least twice and choose the best recording.
- Receive feedback from remote scorer on success of recording.
Why does it work?
When students practice reading a passage of complex text out loud they discover how clauses work together to further the plot, emphasize certain ideas, and express emotion.
The software guides students to practice in a way that is intrinsically satisfying, helping them to play with words and using their voices to share their first impressions of the text.
Leveled activities ensure that every student sees quick progress and struggling readers see how practice pays off.
What do students do?
- Take a comprehension multiple choice quiz.
- Partner with a student who had different answers.
- Choose the best answer and figure out why a smart reader might have given different answers.
- Share findings with the class and correct misconceptions.
Why does it work?
In order to fully understand complex text, strong readers go back and reread more difficult passages. Yet, adolescents hate to reread because they think it means they are not a good reader.
The Rereading activity makes reading sentences over again feel like detective work as students work with a partner to find misconceptions.
What do students do?
- Rewrite a phrase or sentence in their own words capturing as much of the author’s meaning as possible.
- Share with a partner and determine whose paraphrase is closest to the author’s meaning.
- Discuss their choice with the class.
Why does it work?
When students try to find their own language to express what they think the author means, they become precise about what the author means and doesn’t mean.
When they compare their paraphrase to that of a classmate, students have to consider alternative meanings—and look even more closely at the original text to determine exactly what the author is trying to get across. Working with their classmate to come to consensus prods a student to utilize that classmate’s insights and misconceptions to build their own interpretation of the text.
What do students do?
- Write 150 words in 15 minutes
As they write, they:
- Identify a particular excerpt of text that answers the prompt.
- Describe, explain and analyze the author’s language to develop their own idea.
Why does it work?
In the prior three activities, students have become skillful at understanding and carefully examining particular words, phrases and sentences. When they turn to writing about the text, they have these specific references close at hand. They can build from their insights into specific language to a coherent idea about how and what the author is doing. The simple structure of the writing exercise focuses students on the author’s language and their own ideas about it.
Schedule a time to talk
or see a demo.
We are experienced teachers and administrators who can help you figure out if Riveting Results is a match for your school.
We will respond to your email within 24 hours.
Get all of your students reading complex texts.