Reveal visual triggers for comprehension strategies

South Adams Elementary School teacher Kristi Geimer (Berne, IN) utilized information from previous Smekens' workshops and developed a growing bulletin board to aid her students in reading comprehension strategies she's been targeting...    read more...

Foster opportunities for students to think while reading

One of the strategies readers need to develop is the ability to think while reading. For some this does not come naturally; this needs to be fostered by the teacher. In order to get students to think about their reading, teachers need to build in deliberate opportunities for them to think while they're reading.    read more...

Visualizing while reading — Turning on the “mind movies”

One way to get students to "think" while reading (or "think" while being read to) is to have them visualize. If they can see what's happening, they are more apt to comprehend and remember.    read more...

Maximizing the ABC Chart

The signature of a great teaching strategy is its flexibility. That's why I love the ABC Chart. Here are multiple ways to utilize this same tool to improve writing skills and content comprehension.    read more...

Finding the important info in nonfiction research

We know that comprehension increases when students have an authentic purpose for their content- area and textbook reading. Mary Hall (Sweetser Elementary, Sweetser, IN) helps her students identify their purpose by teaching them to turn traditional chapter subheadings into questions    read more...

Coding text to “slow down” the reader

Students don’t always take content area reading and writing as “seriouslyâ€� as that of Language Arts. However, to truly comprehend the subject matter, students need to apply strong reader and writer habits in content area reading, too.    read more...

Supporting reluctant readers

When assigning classroom reading, consider using techniques that target the reluctant and/or struggling readers in your classroom.    read more...

Stop and say something

You can offer an interactive twist to traditional in-class reading assignments by having students “stop and say something.â€� Instead of the usual “silent readingâ€� approach, have students partner up in class. Each will read independently, although they are sitting side-by- side.    read more...