Our research explores how children comprehend texts. Using sacred texts as a case study, we investigate what children do when they read and discuss sacred texts, how they talk about them with their teachers and classmates, and what interpretations they offer.

Sacred texts have been studied across millennia in almost every context imaginable. Therefore, they offer unique opportunities to explore how people, starting from a young age, read closely. Our research generates insights not only for educators who teach sacred texts, but also for the broader community of literacy educators.

Reflections from SCRoLL Lab Student Researchers

Wintana Sium '23, "It’s 12:40pm, five minutes before our weekly lab meeting starts. I make my way into a sheltered red and white building complex situated at the back of the University. Bold metallic letters protrude from... (more from Wintana)

Kalkidan Antonios '24, "I am pursuing a Master of Arts in Sustainable International Development at the Heller School. I joined SCRoLL Lab this fall. My time at SCRoLL Lab has helped me develop my qualitative research skills... (more from Kalkidan)

Gavriella Troper-Hochstein '23, "I was hired to the SCRoLL Lab in March 2020, just days before Brandeis shut down all in-person learning and asked students to leave campus. In fact, my interview with Professor Ziva Hassenfeld was my very first in what would become an unending series of zoom meetings... (more from Gavriella)

News and Updates

Read the Article “First and Second Conversations: Remote Learning and Interpretive Boundaries”

In SCRoLL Lab's first inaugural year, we embarked on teacher-research in a remote classroom. Learn about our findings for the broader educational world in our article in The Reading Teacher journal - July 20, 2022.

Listen to the Podcast “What is the Status of Text and Literacy in a Digital Age?”

Professor Ziva Hassenfeld discusses research conducted by SCRoLL Lab on Online Jewish Education on the NRJE podcast, Opening Doors, with Josh Krug and Sara Wolkenfeld - June 7, 2022.

Listen to the Podcast “What We Learned From Online Learning”

Professor Ziva Hassenfeld discusses research conducted by SCRoLL Lab on Online Jewish Education on Prizmah's podcast, Research Corner, with Elliot Rabin and veteran educators Aviv Matzkin and Michal Bessler - November 17, 2021.

Professor Hassenfeld stands addressing a group of students seated around a large wooden table with many black chairs around it and a patterned rug underneath. In the background, there is a whiteboard, a screen with students on Zoom, a lamp, and a plant. All people are wearing masks. The table is covered in laptops and papers.

SCRoLL Lab in their new lab space - fall 2022.

Prof. Ziva Hassenfeld stands in a conference room addressing a group of her student researchers sitting around a table. All are wearing masks.

SCRoLL Lab in action - fall 2021.

Prof. Ziva Hassenfeld and a teacher sit outside at a picnic table. They are looking at a laptop screen.

Truly fun to work on the Science of Reading: Tanakh project with these amazing day school educators and Brandeis students - summer 2021.

A laptop screen showing a Zoom meeting in progress with teachers and student researchers.

Truly fun to work on the Science of Reading: Tanakh project with these amazing day school educators and Brandeis students - summer 2021.