Reading Comprehension: Explicit Strategy Instruction
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The Benefit of Explicit Instruction. From 1997 to 2000, the National Reading Panel reviewed over 500 studies on the teaching of reading comprehension. The panel found that comprehension strategy instruction is effective in fostering active reading. Most students are not capable of spontaneously developing and using these strategies. Explicit instruction is useful for students at all reading levels, but especially for less-skilled readers.
Multiple Strategies are More Effective. In the early days of comprehension strategy instruction, there was a tendency to teach strategies one at a time. However, research has shown that teaching multiple strategies during a session is more effective, and more natural for students and teacher. As one teacher noted in a study by Fisher, Frey, and Lapp (The Reading Teacher 61(7)), "I used to do it that way--focus on one comprehension strategy at a time. But I think that's a problem. I don't really read that way, and if I don't read that way it's not really an authentic shared reaching and think-aloud, right?"
Teacher Preparation for Instruction. Teachers, too, have to learn how to model and scaffold the use of comprehension strategies. Four separate studies have found that teachers who learn multiple comprehension strategy instruction techniques improve the comprehension of their students, as measured by standardized reading comprehension tests.
The Benefits of Cooperative Learning. Other studies have found that comprehension strategy instruction is most effective when it is taught in a small group setting. Cooperative learning has been found to improve gains in comprehension, but also to increase motivation and social interaction with peers, help integrate LD and physically disabled students into the mainstream classroom, and save teacher time.
Learn More. To read more about the benefits of small-group instruction in explicit reading comprehension strategies, click on the links below.
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| Useful Comprehension Strategy Links |
"Reading Comprehension" (answers.com): History, research,
description of strategies, bibliography.
"Reading Comprehension Strategies for Content Learning" (Colorin Colorado): Focus on
ELLs.
"Seven Strategies to Teach Students Text Comprehension" (Reading Rockets).
"Comprehension Strategies" (Busy Teacher's Cafe).
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Comprehension Strategy Activity
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Guide a small group to use multiple comprehension strategies with
this rollicking Animal Adventure from
our Stop to Think Reading program.
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Product Spotlight: Stop to Think Reading
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Here are the explicit teaching techniques proven most
effective for comprehension strategy instruction. Each inviting, vividly
illustrated practice text includes a teacher folder with prompts and
descriptions of strategies, together with six read-aloud student cards. Stop
signs embedded in each passage prompt students to "stop to think" about what
they are reading-the perfect time for you to introduce a strategy. Scaffold
students' learning in three stages: modeling, guided practice, and
independence. The 10 passages include realistic fiction, informational text,
poetry, mystery, and more, to expose children to a variety of genres. High-interest,
low reading level texts (1.8 to 2.6) are perfect for intervention at higher
grades.
The learning doesn't stop once you've finished reading the
practice passages. Encourage your students to continue to use the Stop to Think
Reading approach with other text passages and books. Remind them that good
readers are always thinking about what they are reading. Their comprehension
will continue to improve as they practice their skills.
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| Web Special |
Through April 10, online only!
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Stop to Think Reading
 $85.00 Value
NOW $75.00 |
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Next Month's Topic: Spelling to Read and Write
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Spelling lists. Spelling tests. Many adults remember them less than fondly, yet spelling is an essential element in learning to read and write. Next month, we'll explore recent spelling research, and offer lots of resources to make your spelling instruction more fun and effective.
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Quote of the Month
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"If
you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it
to."
--Dorothy Parker
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