Like many kids, I used to watch Scooby Doo, Where Are You! (Okay, I still do.) In each episode, Scooby-Doo, along with Shaggy, Fred, Velma, and Daphne, would solve clues to figure out mysteries that puzzled others in the town. Most of the time, they’d find out someone well-known was behind all of the ruckus. Elwood Crane?!

Like Scooby-Doo and the gang, students need to become close-reading detectives when they read. By gathering small details, investigating the text, decoding textual evidence, and providing an explanation of their reasoning, students develop the close-reading skills needed to be successful in today’s world.

The infographic below is a great tool to use in your classroom as a visual reminder of what effective close reading looks like. Check it out!