Thoughtful reading isn’t just about answering comprehension questions. It’s about engaging deeply with text, thinking critically, articulating ideas, and collaborating with others to uncover meaning. Junior Great Books is a research-based reading curriculum that does exactly that. By combining high-quality literature with the Shared Inquiry discussion method, this program supports reading comprehension, critical thinking, discourse, and writing—making it a powerful match for gifted and advanced students.
What is Junior Great Books?
Junior Great Books is an inquiry-based literature program designed for grades K–5 and grade 6-8 that pairs outstanding fiction, nonfiction, and poetry with structured activities to deepen meaning, build academic language, and develop reasoning skills. It encourages readers to ask thoughtful questions, support ideas with evidence, and participate in rich discussions about text. This approach is often used as a core reading program, an enrichment block, a pull-out program for gifted learners, or as a supplement to existing literacy curricula.
Why This Resource Works for Gifted and Advanced Students
Gifted learners benefit from curriculum that:
- requires interpretive thinking instead of just literal recall,
- invites multiple valid interpretations and discourse,
- supports text-based claims supported with evidence, and
- integrates deep listening, speaking, and writing.
Junior Great Books does all of these through a research-based pedagogy called Shared Inquiry, which helps students move beyond surface understanding into deeper comprehension and critical thought.
Students engaged in this method often:
- interpret complex text and infer meaning from context,
- generate and respond to interpretive questions,
- support their interpretations with evidence,
- articulate ideas clearly through discussion and writing,
- and build confidence in collaborative intellectual work.
Core Features of the Program
Junior Great Books is designed with the following elements in mind:
- High-quality literature from diverse genres and cultures that invites inquiry.
- Shared Inquiry discussions guided by open-ended questions that deepen comprehension and thinking.
- Structured prereading, second reading, and post-discussion activities that reinforce meaning and build academic language.
- Extension writing tasks that help students organize and explore their ideas in writing.
- Tools for speaking and listening that develop respectful academic discourse.
How to Use It
Here are practical ways to bring Junior Great Books into your gifted program:
- Whole-class literature study: Use selections as anchor texts for extended reading and inquiry units.
- Small group seminars: Facilitate Shared Inquiry discussions with advanced readers to stretch analytical and discourse skills.
- Gifted pull-out sessions: Supplement a general curriculum by diving deeply into interpretive questions and evidence-supported thinking.
- Cross-curricular connections: Pair literature with history, social studies, or science texts to build deeper conceptual understanding.
- At-home enrichment: Encourage families to explore selections together and practice asking open-ended questions about literature.
Because the materials include literature, discussion guides, and writing extensions, Junior Great Books is flexible enough to fit many instructional models and goals. They even offer some free lesson plans so you try out this amazing resource!
Tips for Implementation
- Start with teacher modeling of Shared Inquiry questions so students understand how to ask and respond with evidence.
- Use think-alouds during first and second readings to model active comprehension strategies.
- Record student thinking during discussions to help learners see patterns in their reasoning and discourse.
- Differentiate texts or tasks by offering more complex supplemental readings or deeper writing prompts for advanced learners.
In Sum
Junior Great Books isn’t a set of worksheets. It’s a thinking curriculum. Its combination of rich literature, student-centered discussion, and interpretive questioning aligns beautifully with the needs of gifted and advanced learners. Whether you’re looking to deepen reading comprehension, build academic language, or foster thoughtful discussion, this program offers a scaffolded yet open-ended structure that supports high-level thinking.
Your Turn
Junior Great Books was absolutely my favorite Language Arts resource to use with my gifted students back in the day! There are so many good stories that launch deep discussions and writing. Have you used Junior Great Books in your classroom, gifted pull-out, or homeschool setting? What experiences have helped your advanced readers think more deeply about text? Share your insights and favorite strategies in the comments below! ~Ann
Teaching for Talent 