Summary In this episode, the hosts discuss the RAND Model, a heuristic for thinking about reading comprehension. The model was developed in the late 1990s by the RAND Corporation in response to a need for more research on comprehension. The model considers three main components: the reader, the text, and the purpose or activity of reading. It emphasizes the active role of the reader in constructing meaning from the text and highlights the importance of text complexity, coherence, genre, and the context in which reading takes place. The hosts also explore the challenges of measuring reading comprehension and suggest a curriculum-based assessment approach. Takeaways The RAND Model is a heuristic for thinking about reading comprehension that considers the reader, the text, and the purpose or activity of reading.Text complexity, coherence, genre, and the context in which reading takes place are important factors in comprehension.Measuring reading comprehension with standardized tests can be challenging due to the complexity of the construct.A curriculum-based assessment approach that measures comprehension within specific disciplines may provide a more accurate and fair assessment of reading ability.Resources Ep. 177: The Five Pillars of Reading with Hugh CattsEp. 178: The Simple View and Scarborough’s Reading Rope with Researcher Hugh Catts Five Pillars of Reading with Hugh Catts Follow researcher Hugh Catts on Twitter (or X)A Heuristic for Thinking About Reading Comprehension, or the RAND Model ICYMI: Ep. 118: Rethinking Reading Comprehension with Researcher Hugh CattsConnect with us Facebook and join our Facebook Group Twitter Instagram Don't miss an episode! Sign up for FREE bonus resources and episode alerts at LiteracyPodcast.com Helping teachers learn about science of reading, knowledge building, and high quality curriculum.