Conclusion

Comprehension strategies instruction involves teaching students how to use various strategies to comprehend text. In the past, teachers did not teach comprehension strategies, instead they assessed student comprehension through questions given after reading a text. Today, comprehension strategies instruction is much more on the forefront in research and encourages teachers to provide students with strategies to use prior, during, and after reading in order to understand the text better. The overall goal during this instructional model is to “prepare students to be self-regulated readers” (Brown & Coy-Ogan, 1993, p. 10). Strategies are not just given to the students though. Strategies are explicitly taught through modeling, practicing, and then giving over responsibility to the student. This model is called Gradual Release of Responsibility developed by Pearson and Gallagher (1983 ) and scaffolds students into independently using strategies while reading.

Five strategies are highlighted in this Wiki with lesson plans provided to teach them in a classroom setting. These five strategies are research-based and studies suggest that students will improve their reading skills through the use of comprehension strategies. There are other strategies along with many different ways to implement them within the classroom. Even though there are a multitude of strategies mentioned or used in today's education system, it is important to focus in on a handful of research-based strategies that can improve comprehension in students. The goal of this reading instruction strategy is to provide students with a toolbox to access while they read. Hopefully, students will progress to the point where many of the strategies become skills they use automatically whenever they begin to read. When students can actively control their own reading comprehension, they will become better readers and lifelong learners.