Today’s digital classroom seeks to combine rich literacy instruction with 21st century tools to engage students in meaningful learning experiences. New devices invite students to read beyond the text and use multimedia--images, video, infographics--to add layers to their thinking. In this new learning landscape, we rethink what it means to “read” and craft lessons that explicitly teach students to analyze a photo, closely read a video clip and read the world. We’ll investigate new entry points for all learners and share ideas for empowering students to author their own messages as content creators in this participatory digital culture.