There are many effective strategies that can be used to support student learning from expository text, but how do teachers choose and use them? The authors provide readers with a process for selecting instructional strategies that embed literacy instruction into teaching with content area text. A a veteran sixth‐grade teacher is followed as she engages in the process of assessment, reflection, planning, and teaching. The authors explain how the expert teacher chooses instructional strategies to develop vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and motivation in the context of social science instruction. Student work samples help the reader envision classroom instruction and provide a context for reflections on student learning.