Comprehension Strategy Studies

I read a great book in my master's class this summer called Mosaic of Thought by Ellin Oliver Keene and Susan Zimmerman. This book really changed the way I thought about teaching reading comprehension. In the past, I had always thought that teaching reading comprehension strategies was important. In the basal though, they would focus on a different strategy each week. This book taught me the importance of really delving into a strategy and studying it for 6-8 weeks.

I am on my second strategy study so far this school year. We studied the strategy of using schema to make connections first and now we are studying inferences. I have been using the technique of gradual release of responsibility. I model with lots of think-alouds using high quality texts and gradually start having my students practice the skill, first in groups and then independently. I love how they have been using the vocabulary! They can tell me if they are making text-to-text connections or when they are inferring. I have seen my students use much more metacognition this year. I love these strategy studies and if you haven't read the book, you really need to!

Here are the strategies the book addresses:
1. Monitoring and Revising Comprehension
2. Using Schema to Understand and Remember
3. Questioning
4. Inference
5. Using Sensory and Emotional Images to Enhance Comprehension
6. Determining Importance
7. Synthesis