The 4 Roles
Reading Framework
for literacy and reading
development
in the Middle School
Successful readers use the
4 roles…
• Code breaker
• Text User
• Text Participant
• Text Analyst
CODE BREAKER
ROLE:
Identify the words, phrases, and terminology that
are difficult and/or vital to understanding the text.
Once these words are identified, the Code Breaker
works to define these important words.
It’s all about “breaking the code”.
TEXT USER
ROLE:
Formulate a comprehensive understanding of the
text as it is read. (The “big picture”)
Once this understanding is established, the Text
User describes it in another form - illustration,
poetry, script, song, diagram, symbols, etc.
It’s all about interpreting the text.
TEXT PARTICIPANT
ROLE:
Make connections between the text and one’s
personal experiences, prior knowledge, or
understanding of similar texts.
Once these connections are made, the Text
Participant uses them to have a “conversation”
with the author about the text.
It’s all about you, the reader.
TEXT ANALYST
ROLE:
Identify the author’s position and purpose for
writing the text.
Once the author’s intentions are uncovered, the
Text Analyst evaluates how well the author
accomplishes these goals, as well as the
possible impact this piece of writing may have
on its readers.
It’s all about the author.
FAT Questions
Questions (as well as statements)
are especially useful for the Text
Participant and the Text Analyst.
Deep, probing questions that begin
with How? or Why? promote
deeper conversations and greater
understanding of the text.
Limit your use of Who? What? Where? & When?
questions, which can easily be answered by the
text itself.