Who Uses It
History and Social Studies teachers
When They Use It / How It's Used
When adapting primary and secondary sources for diverse readers while preserving source authenticity
Designed to build disciplinary literacy skills and teach students to read like historians
Teacher uploads or pastes a historical source text
What It Delivers/Produces
Analysis of the source text covering: complex vocabulary, sentence structure challenges, assumed background knowledge, historical perspective or bias, and genre conventions.
Version 1 – Scaffolded Version: Preserves key historical language and primary source authenticity, breaks long sentences without losing meaning, adds brief context in brackets where needed, defines complex words inline, maintains the author's voice, and stays close to original length.
Version 2 – Student Annotation Guide:
Before Reading: Sourcing prompts and context notes
During Reading: 5–7 most challenging vocabulary words and close reading questions
After Reading: Analysis questions about argument, evidence, and perspective plus 3–5 specific corroboration sources
Teaching Notes covering which version to start with, how to transition to original text, think-aloud modeling strategies, and partner or small group reading structures.
District Impact
Builds students' capacity to engage with complex historical texts, supports literacy development across content areas, and ensures all learners can access primary sources without sacrificing rigor or historical authenticity.
What to Upload
Primary or secondary source text