Short, Short, BIG!
Short Reads. Short Writes. BIG Gains.
Short, Short, BIG! is a teacher toolkit and writing intervention program that teaches middle and high school students to read closely, argue with evidence, and write with confidence.
Why It Works
Empower Your Students with a Proven Reading and Writing Program
A Simple, Proven Framework
Claim It, Cite It, Cement It™ gives every student a clear, repeatable process for evidence-based reading and writing.
Built for Secondary Engagement
Hi-Lo passages from Saddleback Books with high-interest topics and color-coded text features designed for middle and high school students.
Standards-Aligned & Assessment-Ready
Aligned to state standards, with built-in pre- and post-assessments and rubrics that track growth and prepare students for high-stakes writing tasks.
Program Components
Everything You Need, All in One Program
The Short, Short, BIG! Approach
Claim It!
Build the argument
Cite It!
Support it with evidence
Cement It!
Land the conclusion
A flexible framework designed for any pacing — no fixed weeks or timeframes.
What's Included
Browse the Program Components
Evidence-Based & Scaffolded Lessons
Teacher's Guide
- Step-by-step process to teach evidence-based writing
- Standards-based and developmentally appropriate writing instruction
- Pre- and post-tests to identify needs and assess students' progress
- Scope and sequence to support lesson planning and integration with other programs
Engaging Text & Multi-Modal Student Activities
Student Worktext (English)
- Practice reading comprehension with accessible Hi-Lo texts from Saddleback Books and embedded reading strategies
- Hook students with writing prompts that motivate and ignite their responses
- Build background and visually support reading and writing with high-interest images and graphics
Build Biliteracy Skills in Spanish & English
Bilingual Edition
- Reading passages and instructional content in Spanish and English
- Bilingual Edition Teacher's Guide
- Ideal for Dual Language and ENL/ELL students
Visually Anchor the Lessons & Support Independent Learning
Digital Resources
- Google Slides to support the Teacher's Guide
- PDFs of the student pages
- Device- and platform-agnostic
- Share them through your learning management system
Instructional Settings
How to Purchase
Two Simple Ways to Bring SSB to Your Students
Individual Purchase
Buy Now
- Single classroom set
- Bilingual Edition add-on
- Digital Teacher's Guide access
ERC to confirm pricing & SKUs.
School or District
Order for Your School or District
- Bulk pricing available
- Purchase orders accepted
- Implementation support included
Best Value
Bundle with Professional Development
- Pair SSB with ERC's Evidence-Based Writing PD
- Onsite, virtual & on-demand training options
- Maximize implementation and results
Testimonials & Results
Educators See the Difference
ERC will supply an attributed testimonial (name, title, school/district) about student engagement and writing growth with Short, Short, BIG!
ERC will supply an attributed testimonial highlighting ease of implementation and the Claim It, Cite It, Cement It framework.
ERC will supply a data-driven result or district case study (e.g., test-score gains, STAAR outcomes).
ERC to supply attributed testimonials and any data-driven results. shortshortbig.com has existing “Data-Driven Results” and “Research” pages to pull from.
Resource Library
Downloadable Resources
Explore alignment guides, research, and planning tools to support your implementation.
Sample Unit
A free, ungated sample unit so you can see the Claim It, Cite It, Cement It framework in action.
NYS Next Gen Alignment Guide
See how Short, Short, BIG! aligns to the New York State Next Generation Learning Standards.
STAAR Alignment Guide
See how the program aligns to the TEKS and prepares students for the STAAR assessment.
Research & Evidence Base
The science and research behind evidence-based reading and writing instruction.
Scope & Sequence / Pacing Guide
A flexible scope, sequence, and pacing guide for any instructional setting.
Professional Development Brochure
Overview of ERC's Evidence-Based Writing PD that pairs with Short, Short, BIG!
Additional resources coming soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get the Answers You Need
Short, Short, BIG! is designed for adolescent students, grades 5–12, with a focus on accelerating students' close reading and evidence-based writing skills.
Yes. The program is built for and aligned to state literacy standards, including the NYS Next Gen Learning Standards, the TEKS, and the STAAR assessment.
Yes. Flexible pacing plans and a scope and sequence make it easy to implement in core ELA classrooms, intervention blocks, summer school, or after-school programs.
Yes. The Bilingual Edition includes a full Spanish Student Worktext (Cuaderno del Estudiante) and matching Teacher's Guide, ideal for Dual Language and ENL/ELL students.
Yes. ERC offers professional development for Short, Short, BIG!, including onsite implementation training, virtual support, and on-demand video modules.
Use the Request a Price Quote button on this page, or contact the ERC customer service team directly at (888) 661-7071 or ssb@eduresourcecompany.com.
Get in Touch
Request a Price Quote
Tell us about your school or district and we'll follow up with pricing and next steps for Short, Short, BIG!