There is a saying: “When eating an elephant take one bite at a time.” Attributed to Creighton Abrams, we have come to use this phrase to help us understand that any task, no matter how challenging, can be tackled bit by bit. The quote also reminds us that when we try to do too much at once, we run the risk of failure — or a serious case of lockjaw.
There may be nothing more intimidating to a student than the experience of sitting down and trying to read a text that is way too difficult. And while most researchers suggest that in this instance the reader should stop, drop, and find a text they can read independently, there are times (especially in middle/high school) where this is not an option. Whether it is a tough nonfiction text in Social Studies, a high-stakes test passage, or a challenging article on a beloved topic, we want our students to be empowered to try and read that which feels unreadable.
