Overview of Parts

The Comprehension Playbook addresses all of the grade-level comprehension standards for reading literature and reading informational text.

The front cover of each play includes the yearlong skill focus, grade range, skill purpose, and grade-level standards. Inside the foldout, images of the anchor chart show a suggested roll-out that continues throughout the year in different “rounds.” Each round includes a one-sentence summary of the skill focus for that week of mini-lessons as well as day-by-day instructional points to use in everyday comprehension mini-lessons.

Just as the Playbook is for you, outlining the plays you’ll teach your readers, the anchor chart is for your students–it’s their playbook for how to run the plays you taught. Building the anchor charts during your mini-lesson instruction helps students’ understanding deepen with each new mini-lesson you teach. The digital resources for the Playbook include anchor charts resources such as images, printable PDFs, as well as Google Slides.

If using standard-sized chart paper (25”x30”), you’ll need to print the PDF on letter-size paper and then trim pieces to fit. Some images/words will require overlapping and tape. If you prefer to use a smaller board (18”x24”), plan to print at 70%. Once the pieces are finished, consider laminating them so that they last beyond the first year. For storage, you can place them in a manila envelope with the printed image of the anchor chart taped on one side and the image of the “build” on the other side.

A round is a “week.” One panel in the printed play provides one round of lesson ideas. It represents a week of direct, whole-class instruction. It is not a perfect 5-day week. Some skills may only need 4 days. While other skills may require up to 7. So a round is a “week” or somewhere between 4-7 days.

Some skills require telling the students more information than will fit easily into one mini-lesson. Rather than splitting it up, it’s suggested that the teacher determine which information to share and model the first day and which will be shared and modeled the next day. Because everyone’s class is different, you will be able to decide what will best fit your style of delivery and your students’ developmental readiness.