How to Teach a Reading Approach to Elementary, Middle or High School Students

Giving students a purpose for their reading can increase comprehension.

Teaching your students different approaches for reading tasks is one way to improve comprehension. Reading can be an overwhelming task, especially for students who struggle with reading comprehension. Giving students a specific purpose for reading a selection breaks the task down into more manageable parts and increases their confidence and comprehension. As with any new concept, students need to see reading approaches in action before they will be able to do it themselves.

Instructions

1. Tell your students what their reading task will be. Examples of some reading tasks are comparing/contrasting, summarizing or identifying cause and effect relationships.

2. Model how to complete the reading approach. If possible, project a reading selection so all of the students can see it and read it out loud. As you are reading, underline, star or highlight information you believe will help you complete your task. Explain why you are marking the text you choose.

3. Practice completing a reading approach together as a class. After modeling how to complete an approach to reading, complete a short reading passage together. Circulate through the class and assist students who need help.

4. Assign a passage for students to complete independently. After practicing completing an approach to reading together as a class, assign work for students to complete on their own to assess their ability to complete the reading approach. Reteach if necessary.

References

• "Strategies That Work: Teaching Comprehension to Enhance Understanding"; Stephanie Harvey and Anne Goudvis; 2000
• Approaches to Reading