It’s almost back-to-school time, and you know what that means… time to brainstorm new ways to engage and motivate our students! If you’re like me, you’re always searching for strategies that spark curiosity and ignite a love of learning.

As a reading interventionist for those awesome, yet sometimes bewildering, 5th and 6th graders, I’m always on the lookout for strategies that actually make a difference. Enter Clarity for Learning (C4L), a teaching framework that’s not only research-backed but also surprisingly fun (yes, even for the eye-rolling pre-teens!). My district is diving into this framework as a book study, and let me tell you, it’s already making me reframe my reading intervention classroom.

What’s the Big Deal with Clarity for Learning?

In a nutshell, C4L is all about making learning goals crystal clear for our students. It’s about ditching the vague “learn about…” statements and replacing them with laser-focused learning intentions and success criteria. Sounds simple, right? Good news- it is! The more I read and experience, the more convinced I am this shift can be a total game-changer.

How I Use C4L in My Intervention Classroom

Let me share a real-life example. Last year, I had a group of struggling readers who were convinced they were just “bad at reading.” No matter how many phonics drills or comprehension strategies I guided them through, their confidence (and scores) remained stagnant. And, of course, that impacted their motivation and effort.

Towards the end of the year, my coach introduced me to C4L. I read Clarity for Learning: Five Essential Practices That Empower Students and Teachers by John Almarode and Kara Vandas. I put the ideas into practice slowly. I started by some co-creating learning intentions with my students. Instead of just saying, “We’re going to learn about inferencing,” we came up with specific goals like, “I can use clues from the text and my own background knowledge to figure out what the author doesn’t directly say.”

Next, we established clear success criteria. We talked about what it would look like to make a successful inference, and I even created a silly little rubric with emojis to help them track their progress (because, let’s face it, who doesn’t love emojis?). You can download that rubric for FREE here.

It wasn’t immediate, but something clicked. The students were engaged, motivated, and, dare I say, excited about coming to reading group. They could see their progress and feel a sense of ownership over their learning.

The Benefits of C4L for Struggling Readers

• Reduced Anxiety: When students know exactly what they’re learning and how they’ll be assessed, it reduces the fear of the unknown and builds confidence.
• Increased Motivation: Clear goals and success criteria give students a sense of purpose and a path to follow.
• Improved Engagement: Students are more likely to be invested in their learning when they understand the “why” behind it.
• Better Results: When students know what they’re aiming for, they’re more likely to hit the target.

A Few Tips for Implementing C4L

• Keep it Simple: Don’t overcomplicate things. Clear and concise language is key.
• Get Student Input: Involve students in creating learning intentions and success criteria. This will make them more invested in the process.
• Provide Opportunities to Respond: Give students plenty of chances to practice their skills and receive feedback.
• Celebrate Success: Make a big deal out of student progress, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement goes a long way!

C4L: Not Just for the Classroom

One of the coolest things about C4L is that it’s not just for school. You can use it at home with your own kiddos or even for your own personal goals! Clarity for Learning is a powerful tool that can transform your reading intervention classroom (and your life!). Give it a try and see the magic happen. And hey, if you have any questions or want to share your own C4L experiences, drop a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!