Published by the state of North Carolina, the purpose of this booklet is to assist teachers as they plan instruction to help students become proficient readers. The booklet contains matrices for comprehension, word identification, and instructional strategies to assist in planning and helping students be successful on the End-of-Grade (EOG) Tests in Reading for grades 3-5. Information in the matrix can serve as a reference point for teachers as they plan and scaffold reading instruction. The decoding and word identification matrix in the publication is a tool that summarizes key elements of decoding and word identification characteristic of students at each achievement level on the EOG. Instructional strategies are suggested that can serve as reference points for planning instruction. The instructional strategies matrix presents instructional strategies, reading skills and strategies, and thinking skills with suggestions for when they are most appropriate for students. The booklet includes a discussion of the North Carolina Thinking Skill Levels, clarifying various kinds of thinking and questions that may elicit each. Finally, it outlines questions to promote critical thinking and response to texts for narrative and for expository texts. (SR)