Teaching Reading Comprehension

Despite major advances in the knowledge of the reading process, there have been few changes in the way comprehension is taught in our schools. A generation of teachers has had the opportunity to share in insights from research showing that reading is a constructive process driven by a search for meaning. Yet it seems comprehension is still treated as a process of information transfer. This book offers a definition of comprehension instruction in which the teacher's role consists largely of supporting and encouraging the reader to an enhanced engagement with the text. It outlines learning environments and tried and tested teaching strategies for stimulating the comprehension of literary and factual texts. It stresses the use of whole texts, group collaboration and integrated reading with other forms of meaning making such as writing, drawing and drama; and his central concern is to encourage children to read for purposes which they see as significant for themselves.