Elizabeth Graham Post 4: Routman's Chapter 8: Teach Comprehension

As I read Routman's chapter entitled, "Teach Comprehension", I connected with ways to employ effective comprehension strategies during library lessons and read alouds. As I am reading to classes I can model and demonstrate by "thinking aloud in front of the class". Some key strategies that I can focus on:

• Predicting
• Questioning
• Creating images - visual pictures 
• Seeking clarification
• Constructing summaries

An important point that may be obvious to most, but was an "aha moment" for me, is that "proficient readers use many strategies". There is not one single step to good comprehension, but many strategies that need to be used together and to be practiced in an authentic way. Media specialists are taught to embed information seeking skills and search strategies within the curriculum, not to teach skills in isolation. Reading comprehension works the same way: students should use comprehension strategies and skills at the point of need, while they are actually reading. 

Link to article by C.S. Adler on Reading Rockets webpage: Seven Strategies to Teach Students Text Comprehension. Useful resource for teachers and parents.