DESIGNWNOY

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Read. Reflect. Play.

Read. Reflect. Play.

Scaffolding Independent Comprehension for Middle Schoolers

Scaffolding Independent Comprehension for Middle Schoolers

Team

Sayli Pednekar, Meera Bharat

Timeline

Jul 2024 - May 2025

Methodology

Participatory Research, Game Design, Playtesting

Fragments OS
Fragments OS
Fragments OS

(TLDR)

(TLDR)

Jordan loves stories.

Jordan loves stories.

But at 12, reading alone

But at 12, reading alone

still feels like a wall

still feels like a wall

she can't climb

she can't climb

"I'd rather do Tiktok," she told us during one of our workshops.

"I'd rather do Tiktok," she told us during one of our workshops.

And she’s not alone. 69% of U.S. middle schoolers read below grade level. In classrooms across the U.S., comprehension strategies like annotation, summarization, and prediction are modeled and practiced regularly. But students often struggle to carry those strategies into independent reading.


Additionally, most current tools either drill vocabulary or test retention, offering little support where it matters most: the transition from guided to independent reading.

And she’s not alone. 69% of U.S. middle schoolers read below grade level. In classrooms across the U.S., comprehension strategies like annotation, summarization, and prediction are modeled and practiced regularly. But students often struggle to carry those strategies into independent reading.


Additionally, most current tools either drill vocabulary or test retention, offering little support where it matters most: the transition from guided to independent reading.

Turning Strategies Into Superpowers with Guardians of Luminara

Turning Strategies Into Superpowers with
Guardians of Luminara

A narrative-driven reading game that helps students practice essential comprehension strategies independently through scaffolded missions, playful storytelling, and feedback-driven reflection.

A narrative-driven reading game that helps students practice essential comprehension strategies independently through scaffolded missions, playful storytelling, and feedback-driven reflection.

Fragments OS
Fragments OS

Strategies Become Powers

Comprehension tools like the highlighter, sticky note, and emoji stamp mirror strategies like clarify, question, evaluate — turning skills into interactive, collectible powers.

Learning Through Play

Students tackle quests that require chunking stories, building comics, and making predictions. No multiple-choice fatigue here — just creative engagement.

Scaffolded Like a Classroom

Following the gradual release model, the game loop moves from modeling → guided practice → independent play. Prompting fades as students build stamina and skill mastery.

Built With (Not For) Students

We co-designed with middle schoolers, educators, and neurodiverse learners — testing every assumption about motivation, structure, and play.

(Unpacking the Breakdown)

(Unpacking the Breakdown)

Why strategies don’t stick — and what students really need

Why strategies don’t stick — and what students really need

We took a multi-layered approach —triangulating classroom pedagogy, cognitive science, and game-based learning. Through literature reviews, educator interviews, classroom observations, and student workshops, one insight surfaced again and again:


Students weren’t failing because they lacked comprehension strategies. It was because they didn’t know when or how to use them without help.

We took a multi-layered approach —triangulating classroom pedagogy, cognitive science, and game-based learning. Through literature reviews, educator interviews, classroom observations, and student workshops, one insight surfaced again and again:


Students weren’t failing because they lacked comprehension strategies. It was because they didn’t know when or how to use them without help.

How We Investigated

Product Teardown - Discovery Education

Revealed limited ELA support compared to rich offerings in Math and immersive tools like Sandbox AR.

Landscape Analysis

Benchmarked ELA tools like Blooket and Reading Plus—few supported deeper strategy practice or reflection.

Literature & Standards Review

Mapped metacognitive frameworks and the Gradual Release Model to Common Core reading goals.

3 Classroom Observations

At Kumon and Howard School, students relied heavily on prompts—even during guided reading.

45 Educator Surveys

Identified top student challenges: low motivation (83%), weak attention spans (74%), and poor strategy transfer (71%).

10 In-Depth Interviews

Teachers and specialists revealed a gap between modeled instruction and independent comprehension.