A Better Way to Build Stronger Readers in
Middle and High School
Zinc doesn’t just assign reading and test whether students understood it. Zinc teaches students what to DO while they’re reading—so they can build meaning, comprehend more deeply, and tackle increasingly challenging texts.
Built specifically for secondary readers—and designed to work across classrooms, schools, and districts.
Middle and high school classrooms include students with vastly different reading needs. Some are still developing foundational skills. Some can decode fluently but struggle to build meaning. Others are ready for increasingly complex texts and ideas.
At the same time, secondary teachers are expected to help all of them tackle sophisticated concepts like argument, author’s purpose, tone, and figurative language—often within the same classroom.
The Literacy Problem We All See
Key challenges:
Reading needs can span many grade levels within a single class
Decoding successfully doesn’t always translate into comprehension
Teachers need ways to differentiate support without lowering the level of thinking
Schools need visibility into who needs support, what kind, and whether students are making progress
How Zinc Supports Secondary Readers at Scale
Explicit Comprehension Instruction
Zinc teaches concrete reading habits that help students build meaning as they read. Students practice with authentic, age-respectful texts at an appropriate level of challenge—so teachers can scaffold comprehension without lowering the level of thinking.
Differentiated Support Within the Same Classroom
Zinc meets students at their reading level while giving them access to topics and ideas designed for teens. Teachers can support a wide range of readers without creating a separate lesson or assignment for every student.
“We really appreciate how hands-off it is for us—how it meets each student at their level and then keeps them going without any monitoring or input from us, while also giving us valuable feedback.”
- Jordan Motsinger, 9th-grade English, Kennisaw, GA
A Shared Approach Across Sites
Zinc’s professional learning (online, async, or in-person) introduces teachers to the same comprehension habits students practice in Zinc. That gives teachers and students a common language for talking about how reading works—without requiring schools to replace their existing curriculum.
Clear Data on Progress and Student Needs
Reports give teachers and leaders visibility into reading levels, comprehension habits, activity progress, standards performance, and individual student growth—helping schools identify who may need additional support and monitor progress over time.
Use Zinc where it fits your literacy plan: as part of core ELA instruction, targeted reading support, intervention blocks, or independent practice.
See What Reading Growth Can Look Like
PRISCILLA’S ELA CLASSROOM | 9TH GRADE STUDENTS | AUGUST - NOVEMBER
53%
grew at least one grade level
30%
grew two grade levels or more
86% began below grade level; 60% began below 4th-grade level.
“We use Zinc 10 minutes a day, every other week.”
— Priscilla Barrera,
English 1 Lead Teacher at IDEA San Juan College Prep, Texas
Choose your starting point
Register school leaders, literacy leads, or participating teachers.
Complete the one-hour training (or choose in-person PL for your team)
Teachers learn Zinc’s shared approach to comprehension instruction.
Activate student access
Set up classes or grade-level groups and have students begin Zinc Journeys.
Monitor Progress
Use teacher and administrator reports to track participation, reading growth, and student needs.
Zinc can start with one classroom, a grade level, or a broader school or district rollout.
A Simple Path to Implementation
Looking for Options for Funding Zinc?
Zinc may align with several funding programs that support literacy, student achievement, and professional learning. Our quick funding guide shows some potential connections to explore.
Build Stronger Readers Across Your School or District
Help students build meaning, tackle challenging texts, and experience the confidence that comes from reading success.
See how Zinc can help your school or district reach your reading goals.