30 Big Idea Lessons for Small Groups provides an amazing framework, with a bank of engagement tools, that gets students interacting with texts. Follow this unique 4-part process to develop students' literal, inferential, evaluative, and analytical skills:
Engage: Before Reading Students use a tactile tool like a topic card or a pyramid Discuss: During Reading Students read and mark up a short text Deep-See Think: After Reading Students re-read and revise their interpretations together Connect: After Reading Students begin to transfer their understandings to other texts