Background information on Helping

Students Comprehend

By: Stefanie Ventura

 Table of Contents:

• Slide 1- Instruction of comprehension strategies

independently.

• Slide 2- Comprehension help for struggling readers.

• Slide 3-Guided oral reading procedures.

 Instruction of comprehension Strategies
independently:

To help students learn to use a comprehension strategy independently, a

teacher should:
1.) introduce the strategy.
2.) model the strategy.
3.) guide the students as they practice the strategy, with easy-to-read text.
4.) Provide continued independent practice in a variety of reading situations
with frequent feedback.

*Bringing students to the point where they can use a comprehension strategy
independently rarely happens quickly and easily.
* Comprehension instruction is most effective when:

- A few “well-validated” and pertinent strategies are taught.

-When they are discussed and practiced repeatedly.

- When the students are reading interesting content-area text that

requires application of the strategies they have been taught.
 Comprehension help for Struggling
readers:
• Effective strategy instruction for students with reading disabilities requires
intensive efforts in small-group or one-on-one settings, provided by a
teacher who views that instruction as a major responsibility.
• Relating new information to prior knowledge, providing many examples
of important concepts, comparing and contrasting concepts, and
clarifying vocabulary will help students learn essential content.
• Involving students in classroom discussion about their reading will keep
struggling readers involved.

*Idea for students who struggle with reading*

- Teachers should Choose a short text selection and directing students to
read it three times. Students then can rate their comprehension level on a
scale of 1-10, and then discuss their ratings when that have finished.
- Teachers should also model their own thinking as they reread text and
then give students occasional follow up passages to reread for specific tasks.
 *Ideas for students who struggle with
reading*

- Teachers should Choose a short text selection and directing

students to read it three times. Students then can rate their
comprehension level on a scale of 1-10, and then discuss their
ratings when that have finished.

- Teachers should also model their own thinking as they reread

 Guided oral-reading
procedures:
• Guided oral reading procedures include:
-Repeated reading
-Shared reading
-Paired reading
• They typically involve students in rereading the same text
over and over again until a specified level of proficiency is
reached.
• It also tends to rely on one-to-one instruction through
tutoring, audiotapes, or some other means of guided oral-
reading practice.