Seven Strategies to Teach Students Text Comprehension | Reading Topics A-Z | Reading Rockets

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Seven Strategies to Teach Students Text Comprehension

By: C.R. Adler Comprehension strategies are conscious plans sets of steps that good readers use to make sense of text. Comprehension strategy instruction helps students become purposeful, active readers who are in control of their own reading comprehension. The seven strategies here appear to have a firm scientific basis for improving text comprehension Related resources Story Maps Summarizing Think-Alouds

1. Monitoring comprehension
Students who are good at monitoring their comprehension know when they understand what they read and when they do not. They have strategies to "fix" problems in their understanding as the problems arise. Research shows that instruction, even in the early grades, can help students become better at monitoring their comprehension. Comprehension monitoring instruction teaches students to: Be aware of what they do understand Identify what they do not understand Use appropriate strategies to resolve problems in comprehension

2. Metacognition
Metacognition can be defined as "thinking about thinking." Good readers use metacognitive strategies to think about and have control over their reading. Before reading, they might clarify their purpose for reading and preview the text. During reading, they might monitor their understanding, adjusting their reading speed to fit the difficulty of the text and "fixing" any comprehension problems they have. After reading, they check their understanding of what they read. Students may use several comprehension monitoring strategies: Identify where the difficulty occurs "I don't understand the second paragraph on page 76."

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Seven Strategies to Teach Students Text Comprehension | Reading Topics A-Z | Reading Rockets

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Identify what the difficulty is "I don't get what the author means when she says, 'Arriving in America was a milestone in my grandmother's life.'" Restate the difficult sentence or passage in their own words "Oh, so the author means that coming to America was a very important event in her grandmother's life." Look back through the text "The author talked about Mr. McBride in Chapter 2, but I don't remember much about him. Maybe if I reread that chapter, I can figure out why he's acting this way now." Look forward in the text for information that might help them to resolve the difficulty "The text says, 'The groundwater may form a stream or pond or create a wetland. People can also bring groundwater to the surface.' Hmm, I don't understand how people can do that Oh, the next section is called 'Wells.' I'll read this section to see if it tells how they do it."

3. Graphic and semantic organizers

Graphic organizers illustrate concepts and relationships between concepts in a text or using diagrams. Graphic organizers are known by different names, such as maps, webs, graphs, charts, frames, or clusters. Regardless of the label, graphic organizers can help readers focus on concepts and how they are related to other concepts. Graphic organizers help students read and understand textbooks and picture books. Graphic organizers can: Help students focus on text structure "differences between fiction and nonfiction" as they read Provide students with tools they can use to examine and show relationships in a text Help students write well-organized summaries of a text Here are some examples of graphic organizers: Venn-Diagrams (29K PDF)* Used to compare or contrast information from two sources. For example, comparing two Dr. Seuss books. Storyboard/Chain of Events (29K PDF)* Used to order or sequence events within a text. For example, listing the steps for brushing your teeth. Story Map (19K PDF)*

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Used to chart the story structure. These can be organized into fiction and nonfiction text structures. For example, defining characters, setting, events, problem, resolution in a fiction story; however in a nonfiction story, main idea and details would be identified. Cause/Effect (13K PDF)* Used to illustrate the cause and effects told within a text. For example, staying in the sun too long may lead to a painful sunburn. Click here for more free graphic organizers.

4. Answering questions
Questions can be effective because they: Give students a purpose for reading Focus students' attention on what they are to learn Help students to think actively as they read Encourage students to monitor their comprehension Help students to review content and relate what they have learned to what they already know The Question-Answer Relationship strategy (QAR) encourages students to learn how to answer questions better. Students are asked to indicate whether the information they used to answer questions about the text was textually explicit information (information that was directly stated in the text), textually implicit information (information that was implied in the text), or information entirely from the student's own background knowledge. There are four different types of questions: "Right There" Questions found right in the text that ask students to find the one right answer located in one place as a word or a sentence in the passage. Example: Who is Frog's friend? Answer: Toad "Think and Search" Questions based on the recall of facts that can be found directly in the text. Answers are typically found in more than one place, thus requiring students to "think" and "search" through the passage to find the answer. Example: Why was Frog sad? Answer: His friend was leaving. "Author and You" Questions require students to use what they already know, with what they have learned from reading the text. Student's must understand the text and relate it

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to their prior knowledge before answering the question. Example: How do think Frog felt when he found Toad? Answer: I think that Frog felt happy because he had not seen Toad in a long time. I feel happy when I get to see my friend who lives far away. "On Your Own" Questions are answered based on a students prior knowledge and experiences. Reading the text may not be helpful to them when answering this type of question. Example: How would you feel if your best friend moved away? Answer: I would feel very sad if my best friend moved away because I would miss her.

5. Generating questions
By generating questions, students become aware of whether they can answer the questions and if they understand what they are reading. Students learn to ask themselves questions that require them to combine information from different segments of text. For example, students can be taught to ask main idea questions that relate to important information in a text.

6. Recognizing story structure

In story structure instruction, students learn to identify the categories of content (characters, setting, events, problem, resolution). Often, students learn to recognize story structure through the use of story maps. Instruction in story structure improves students' comprehension.

7. Summarizing
Summarizing requires students to determine what is important in what they are reading and to put it into their own words. Instruction in summarizing helps students: Identify or generate main ideas Connect the main or central ideas Eliminate unnecessary information Remember what they read

Effective comprehension strategy instruction is explicit

Research shows that explicit teaching techniques are particularly effective for comprehension strategy instruction. In explicit instruction, teachers tell readers why and when they should use strategies, what strategies to use, and how to apply them. The steps of explicit instruction typically include direct explanation, teacher modeling ("thinking aloud"), guided practice, and application. Direct explanation

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The teacher explains to students why the strategy helps comprehension and when to apply the strategy. Modeling The teacher models, or demonstrates, how to apply the strategy, usually by "thinking aloud" while reading the text that the students are using. Guided practice The teacher guides and assists students as they learn how and when to apply the strategy. Application The teacher helps students practice the strategy until they can apply it independently. Effective comprehension strategy instruction can be accomplished through cooperative learning, which involves students working together as partners or in small groups on clearly defined tasks. Cooperative learning instruction has been used successfully to teach comprehension strategies. Students work together to understand texts, helping each other learn and apply comprehension strategies. Teachers help students learn to work in groups. Teachers also provide modeling of the comprehension strategies.

For more information about comprehension, browse the articles, multimedia, and other resources in this special section: Topics A-Z: Reading Comprehension. Adapted from Adler, C.R. (Ed). 2001. Put Reading First: The Research Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read, pp. 49-54. National Institute for Literacy. Retrieved Nov. 1, 2007, from http://www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/reading_first1text.html. Related Topics: Reading Comprehension Recommend | 123 recommendations

Comment on this article | 82 comments |

Comments
(Note: Comments are owned by the poster. We are not responsible for their content.) thanks for the links to the graphic organisers Posted by: Irena | July 30, 2009 08:12 PM good actives college students can use Posted by: kareen | August 05, 2009 05:20 PM inferential strategies for teaching comprehension Posted by: sherricka clarke | September 16, 2009 01:08 PM

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Im really trying to find other means to use for my struggling readers Posted by: marlyn B. gerio | September 19, 2009 02:59 AM i am trying to help my slow achievers to comprehend, so i have found these strategies useful Posted by: shakeela | November 11, 2009 08:45 PM Thank you for the graphic organizers. Posted by: Anonymous | November 15, 2009 02:31 PM Thanks a lot for supplying these tools for free! Great with kids who have auditory processing disorders. Posted by: Kristen | January 25, 2010 03:05 PM this website really helps me with my reading strategies Posted by: diana | February 24, 2010 07:52 PM this website makes me use all of my reading strategies and makes me inprove my reading grades Posted by: beylee | February 24, 2010 07:59 PM great thank for this good explanations Posted by: mahmoud jamhour | March 07, 2010 06:54 PM thanks for this summary of Strategies which help the readers to understand any text!!! Posted by: Khalil Al hushki | April 17, 2010 02:33 AM This is what I was looking for !!!! Thanks a lot. Posted by: Dinorah Callejas | July 31, 2010 09:31 PM Thanks a lot for these wonderful ideas l really appreciate. Posted by: Ousmane | August 04, 2010 09:45 PM Thanks a million Posted by: Val | August 05, 2010 05:12 PM This article helps me a lot to finish my thesis. Thanks a lot Posted by: Anik Fadmiwati | August 15, 2010 11:57 AM

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Thank you for this great article! The examples were very useful. Posted by: Dani | September 14, 2010 03:49 PM Thank for the detailed explanation and free resources. Very helpful. Posted by: MsWhit | September 23, 2010 01:33 PM you are really helpful to others .the information are valueable. Posted by: himaida ibrahim | October 01, 2010 01:31 PM excellet. Thank you very much Posted by: mirara | November 03, 2010 06:50 PM A great resource to help me put together my reading binder for college! Posted by: Kirsten | November 10, 2010 12:36 PM what a useful info.! Posted by: yen | November 24, 2010 11:26 PM Thanks alot, I do appreciate your valuable information, Very Very helpful & useful.Thank you Posted by: Agrin | November 25, 2010 09:45 AM Has anyone tried this techniques with DCD or LD students? Posted by: Wendy | January 23, 2011 07:57 PM I love the graphic organizers, they will be useful in helping my students with identifying main idea as well as putting events in order from the story. Posted by: 2nd Grade Teacher | January 25, 2011 09:27 PM I love the graphic organizers, they will be useful in helping my students with identifying main idea as well as putting events in order from the story. Posted by: 2nd Grade Teacher | January 25, 2011 09:30 PM this is an outstanding article.... it gives essential information! Posted by: velmia | February 03, 2011 04:04 PM is excellent I need with my students Posted by: soledad | February 07, 2011 09:36 AM

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thank a lot of your info i do need it Posted by: rasuna | March 17, 2011 10:11 AM thanks, going to use this with students in school library Posted by: Samuel | April 08, 2011 05:42 PM Thank you so much for the info and especially the graphic organizers . Just what i was looking for. Posted by: jenn | April 16, 2011 03:10 PM I, like very much, this all information about reading. Posted by: rosalie alvarez | April 22, 2011 04:39 PM Really helpful. Certainly a milestone in my life Posted by: Octvio Neto | April 26, 2011 10:51 PM I read the information. It is very interesting, I think they can help me to improve the old reading strategies I have been aplying for a long time , thanks. Posted by: Mary | May 22, 2011 07:16 PM as i am going to be a teacher, i really need it. i like it. thanks Posted by: Chila | May 23, 2011 12:09 AM This tool is very important for latinos who are learning a new language and dont have the opportunity to speak it. Posted by: ngel G. | July 24, 2011 08:40 AM Great graphic organizers...Many options from which to choose...hits a variety of abilities and learning types. Wonderful source for reading comprehension strategies! Posted by: Melissa | August 11, 2011 11:22 PM These are great tips for people who may not know them and wants to learm Posted by: Kaylee | November 03, 2011 07:41 PM thxs this info really helped <3 :) Posted by: a random girl | December 06, 2011 07:20 PM please clarify what ages these strategies are for

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Posted by: 1st grade teacher | December 06, 2011 08:52 PM it helped me a lot, thank you. Posted by: sunil | December 08, 2011 11:14 PM this is really good. really easy to understand.... thanks!! Posted by: Farhanah -teacher | December 12, 2011 12:18 PM A very nice article. Nothing to add except that a careful choice of the text is essential since our choice of the text is supposed to match the learners' level and it is also supposed to serve a certain purpose.Some comprehensions texts can be meant to assess various things. Posted by: Jaber Jad | December 13, 2011 04:37 PM Very important in the contents your strong is necesary for my language and learning Posted by: Cenaida Torres | December 15, 2011 12:31 PM thanks a lot Posted by: t n sharma | December 22, 2011 11:19 PM I am trying to figure out how to teach my 6 year old 1st grader to master these skills. Your infomation has helped give me some ideas, Thanks so much. I will come back later with feed back. Posted by: Vickeevel | January 15, 2012 11:13 PM excellent ideas for comprehension ,I will try out Posted by: kumudini Narkhede | January 29, 2012 11:56 PM thanks a lot Posted by: hannah | February 18, 2012 05:12 PM Great ideas -- some I had forgotten about! Posted by: SRK | February 27, 2012 11:14 PM thanx a lot.I may get benefit for my research Posted by: kosar | March 03, 2012 01:24 PM thank you. love this article Posted by: yvonnejm | March 11, 2012 05:40 PM

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I have found a rich source for the RICA examination; thanks! Posted by: Isaac Osae-Brown | March 22, 2012 12:38 PM Great resource for reading teachers Posted by: Rosalind Walker | April 06, 2012 06:59 PM Additional to this list, a greatly successful strategy is to set up students or children with a Samson's Classroom account! This web based series that focuses on reading comprehension, sight words and spelling, helps students from K-5 read better! Posted by: JaiMuc | May 01, 2012 03:48 PM Thanks I love this article. It's great! Posted by: Joyce | May 02, 2012 04:43 AM Excellent, quite useful, really comprehensive...... Posted by: Paul Maldives | July 02, 2012 04:18 AM Question, my job is programming. As a technical reader, I'm finding it harder to keep up with some of the changes in technology because of my retention / long term comprehension rate. Does anyone have some suggestions for keeping the technical information longer? Posted by: Dan | July 16, 2012 09:17 PM do you have anything on skimming Posted by: hihi | July 19, 2012 02:27 AM As a future educator, this site has helped me tremendously in tutoring struggling readers. I will definitely refer back to this site once I am in the classroom! Posted by: Kristen | July 19, 2012 10:47 AM Thank you so much for that very good strategies..It helps Posted by: Mcelle | August 09, 2012 12:15 AM Good straegies for reading butto encourage children to read is to let them see you read. check out site www.dadreadtome.com Posted by: calebo | August 20, 2012 05:52 AM thankx for the excellent info but how do children generate their own questions? Posted by: thembi | August 31, 2012 03:38 AM

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Excellent site, thank you so much. This will be so useful for my students. Posted by: Theresa Dawahare | September 09, 2012 09:49 PM Thank you guys now i can write my assignment Posted by: Anonymous | September 12, 2012 09:19 AM Thanks for the strategies in teaching reading. so useful Posted by: M Razif | September 18, 2012 04:47 PM Great article, this is very helpful for me in the near future when i become a teacher. thanks for he tips, really enjoyed going through this for my reflection paper. Posted by: Anamarie Kitiona | September 28, 2012 04:44 PM I found this website to be a wonderful resource. I am currently writing a research paper and it has provided me with a lot of information and given clarity in several instances. Thank you! Posted by: Marcia Clarke | September 29, 2012 08:34 PM great stragies Posted by: goku | October 17, 2012 07:31 PM great stragies. Posted by: david | October 17, 2012 07:33 PM nice stragies that will help me. Posted by: jo | October 17, 2012 07:35 PM at last i found some tips on how to deal with reading comprehension thanks...... Posted by: ryan | October 22, 2012 02:50 AM this is good info Posted by: sarah | November 16, 2012 08:54 PM useful info, you should do one on maths Posted by: nancy gao | November 16, 2012 08:59 PM Good work

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Posted by: Onala Okoth Paul | November 28, 2012 03:16 AM this site helped me too much in my research.thanks. Posted by: mina@ | December 04, 2012 04:05 AM It was very useful, thanks Posted by: Marziyeh | December 10, 2012 04:58 AM Great resource for teachers. Graphic organizers are very useful. Thanks Posted by: Chandan | December 12, 2012 04:45 AM great information Posted by: lillian | January 26, 2013 09:56 AM really worthy tips to be follwed !!thank u Posted by: amrut | February 01, 2013 07:02 AM Great info!!! Posted by: Janelle Sanoski | March 13, 2013 01:55 PM Awesome info. Spot on, put in a easy to understand format. thank you!!!! Posted by: Tom | March 23, 2013 01:12 PM nice site...informative... Posted by: rob | April 25, 2013 01:58 AM I have found your guide to be very clear and it gives me much help in answering comprehension questions especially the "On your Own" Thank you, Posted by: Jacinth Clarke | April 25, 2013 10:35 AM

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