This article describes a strategic approach for reading and comprehending scientific information from a middle school science textbook. First, the word-reading skills of children with and without reading difficulties are compared. Second, studies investigating the effectiveness of a syllable-based reading approach on the word-reading skills of middle school children with reading difficulties are reviewed. Finally, the use of a syllable-based approach for reading and comprehending information from a middle school science textbook is described, with specific emphasis on learning words presented within and outside the context of text passages.