Responding to Too Dumb for Complex Text

In the article, Too Dumb for Complex Text, Mark Bauerlein argues that students have a difficult time reading complex texts because it requires single-task focus as opposed to the multi-task lifestyle we've grown accustomed to. He believes that teachers need to slow down and teach students how to read complex texts. This requires focused attention and the use of multiple strategies for comprehending challenging material.

 I think that Bauerlein makes a strong point that we cannot neglect complex texts in our classrooms and even though it is challenging, we need to help students learn to think critically and comprehend complex writing. This can start in the youngest grade levels by modeling for students how to ask questions, make predictions, inferences, and connections to their reading. In the older grades, we need to continue to challenge our students with complex texts and take the time to teach them how to properly delve into the literature.

I think the Bauerlein may be too optimistic in his hope that students will develop a habit of reading complex texts in a single-task manner if they are exposed to it in school a little bit each day. In our world today, I think students are still going to prefer multi-tasking to single-tasking. I think it will become more and more rare to see single-tasking among our students at home and in the classrooms, although I am hopeful that we will be able to teach students to think critically about their reading.