Comprehension Strategies
Recommended Practice: Teach students reading comprehension strategies using carefully selected texts.
- Overview & Tools: Video overviews and professional development materials
- Learn What Works: Expert interviews about comprehension strategies
- See How It Works: Videos and sample materials from schools
Supporting Teachers’ Text Selection
Reading Comprehension > Comprehension Strategies > See How It Works
A principal, literacy coach, and kindergarten teacher discuss ways in which the coach trains and supports teachers’ reading instruction and text selection. The coach assists with lesson planning,...
Resource Type
School Example
Unpacking Standards in Grade-Level Teams
Reading Comprehension > Comprehension Strategies > See How It Works
Hear a principal and literacy specialist describe the use of professional learning communities to unpack standards and guide instruction. The principal addresses standards-based instruction, and...
Resource Type
School Example
The Persistent Principal
Reading Comprehension > Comprehension Strategies > See How It Works
Watch a principal and district elementary supervisor discuss the critical role of building-level instructional leadership. The principal describes how staff development, data meetings, and...
Resource Type
School Example
Helping Students Connect to Text
Reading Comprehension > Comprehension Strategies > See How It Works
Listen to an instructional coach describe how she builds partnerships and supports teachers’ instruction in a diverse cultural setting. She discusses teacher modeling, the importance of developing...
Resource Type
School Example
Question Sea Worksheets
Reading Comprehension > Comprehension Strategies > See How It Works
These worksheets were developed by a third-grade teacher and her colleagues to help students understand the difference between on-the-surface and under-the-surface questions about text. Watch the...
Resource Type
Sample Material
"I Can..." Reading Strategy Books
Reading Comprehension > Comprehension Strategies > See How It Works
This student booklet was created by a second-grade teacher to help her students keep track of the reading strategies they have learned and to remind them to use them as they read. Watch the...
Resource Type
Sample Material
Illustration of Gradual Release of Responsibility Model
Reading Comprehension > Comprehension Strategies > See How It Works
This illustration from the Practice Guide shows instructional practices to gradually release responsibility from teachers to students as a task progresses. It describes the task, the share of...
Resource Type
Sample Material
Examples of Multiple Strategy Formats
Reading Comprehension > Comprehension Strategies > See How It Works
This table from the Practice Guide shows four examples of multiple-strategy formats that combine strategies with an explicit method of teaching them—Reciprocal Teaching, Transactional Strategy...
Resource Type
Sample Material
Examples of Effective Reading Comprehension Strategies
Reading Comprehension > Comprehension Strategies > See How It Works
This table from the Practice Guide describes the six strategies that are the most important for improving reading comprehension in the primary grades and provides examples of activities to promote...
Resource Type
Sample Material
Principal's Walk-Through: Observation and Feedback Form
Reading Comprehension > Comprehension Strategies > See How It Works
This checklist is used by a principal to conduct classroom observations and provide feedback to teachers. Principals and coaches can adapt this walk-through to monitor instruction and engage staff...
Resource Type
Sample Material
Peer Observation Form
Reading Comprehension > Comprehension Strategies > See How It Works
This form is used to guide teacher observations of comprehension lessons taught in peer classrooms. The form lists reflection question stems to focus observations and a chart for taking notes on...
Resource Type
Sample Material
Instructional Planner: Selecting Text for Teaching Comprehension Strategies
Reading Comprehension > Comprehension Strategies > Overview & Tools
Download this tool to assist teachers when they are selecting text for reading comprehension instruction. The planning chart can serve as a checklist to help teachers to remember important elements...
Resource Type
Tool
