Book excerpt: It can take a lifetime to eradicate a reader’s shame—or it can take one great teacher Shame-bound readers want someone to notice them. It’s true. But then what does a teacher do to help students? Justin Stygles found fresh answers in Gershen Kaufman’s seminal research on shame and applied it to his teaching. The results proved to him—and now us—that taking deliberate actions to is crucial. At heart, it’s about mentoring these fragile readers. Yet the beautiful surprise in store? A few shifts in classroom practices changed everything for every reader. Learn to: Spot all the distress signals, including withdrawal, perfectionism, sweetness Help students see that they are not permanently locked out of a reading life Use assessment instruments to note and celebrate incremental change Plan mini-units that develop skills in concert with engagement Design small group experiences that are free of levels and other shame-inducing labels