Reading Comprehension
Explore resources designed to improve reading comprehension in kindergarten through third grades. 
- View a visual diagram of all three practices
- Watch a topic overview and download planning templates
- Listen to an expert
Explore the subtopics below to learn more about the recommended practices:
To learn more about the research underlying these practices, view the IES Practice Guide, Improving Reading Comprehension in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade.
Literature Circles in Second Grade
Reading Comprehension > Engage Students > See How It Works
Listen to a second-grade teacher describe how she uses literature circles in her classroom. By providing clear roles and procedures she develops an effective setting for group discussions. For more...
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School Example
Using Peer Collaboration and Self-Reflection to Engage With Text
Reading Comprehension > Engage Students > See How It Works
A third/fourth-grade teacher describes how she uses discussion cards to engage students during guided reading groups. Students reflect on their reading, make notes, and work in small groups and...
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School Example
Buddy Talk
Reading Comprehension > Engage Students > See How It Works
Watch how a third-grade teacher uses partner sharing to help her students discuss questions about what they are reading. She supports her students’ talk by laying the groundwork for effective...
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School Example
Principal Walk-Throughs
Reading Comprehension > Engage Students > See How It Works
Hear a principal describe how he motivates staff and keeps students focused on reading using a variety of strategies, including three different types of walk-throughs. He discusses the...
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School Example
Engaging Nonfiction Readers
Reading Comprehension > Engage Students > See How It Works
View this video about a reading program that engages students in science inquiry projects. Students are motivated to read in order to develop their questions, seek answers, and learn new information.
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School Example
Preparing Kindergarteners for Text Talk
Reading Comprehension > Engage Students > See How It Works
Hear how a kindergarten teacher helps students develop partner-sharing skills. The teacher talks about the benefits of beginning text discussion at an early age and describes how she establishes...
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School Example
Pumpkin Pie for Halloween: Text Discussion With English Learners
Reading Comprehension > Engage Students > See How It Works
Watch how a kindergarten teacher uses a variety of strategies to help English learners move from listening to discussing stories. She describes how text discussion develops across the early grade...
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School Example
Partner Sharing: Good Readers Ask Questions
Reading Comprehension > Engage Students > See How It Works
Watch a second-grade classroom demonstration of a teacher engaging students in text discussion using multiple techniques focused on questioning. Throughout the lesson, the teacher builds on...
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School Example
Read-Alouds Across the Curriculum
Reading Comprehension > Engage Students > See How It Works
Christine Carriere, who served on the IES Panel that developed the Improving Reading Comprehension in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade Practice Guide, describes how she uses read-alouds for her...
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School Example
We’re Ready for Text Structure
Reading Comprehension > Text Structure > See How It Works
Listen to a literacy coach discuss why it’s important to teach text structure beginning in kindergarten. She describes the differences between narrative and expository text structure and gives...
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School Example
Gertrude Took a Nose Dive: Identifying Problem and Resolution
Reading Comprehension > Text Structure > See How It Works
Watch a third-grade teacher demonstrate how to teach narrative text elements using a graphic organizer. The teacher incorporates several strategies throughout the lesson, such as modeling,...
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School Example
Interactive Strategies for Teaching Nonfiction Text Structure
Reading Comprehension > Text Structure > See How It Works
A third/fourth-grade teacher shares instructional activities designed to help her students understand the compare-contrast and sequence nonfiction text structures. She uses cooperative learning...
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School Example
