Chapter+3+Effective+Comprehension+Instruction

Effective Comprehension Instruction: Teaching, Tone and Assessment
p. 30-43

====Harvey and Goudvis (2007) think about effective comprehension instruction and its subsequent assessment as "teaching with the end in mind" (p. 38). It is important for all literacy teachers to understanding our students' past instruction in reading, where students are at in their own literacy progress, and where future reading instruction needs to go for responsive teaching to promote continued growth. The authors frame effective comprehension instruction and assessment as:====
 * "We listen to kids",
 * "We read kids' work",
 * "We confer with kids",
 * "We listen in on conversations",
 * "We observe behavior and expressions",
 * "We chart responses" ,
 * "We keep anecdotal records of conferences and conversations," and
 * "We script what kids say recording their comments and questions" (p. 40).

Effective comprehension instruction results from responsive teaching, a teaching tone that promotes collaborative learning and curiosity, and timely assessments that capture our students' developing thinking as readers.

**__Professional Resources to Extend Your Learning__**
 * Scholastic's Best Practices: Assessment by Brenda Weaver
 * This website will answer the FAQs from teachers about assessing for and then teaching for effective reading processes.
 * Cunningham, A. & Stanovich, K. (2003). What principals need to know about reading. //Principal//, //83//(2), 34-39.
 * This informative article published by Cunningham and Stanovich will support reading teachers in discussions with school administrators about how to construct an effective school-wide and classroom-based reading curriculum for all students.

__**Video Clips**__


 * Doing What WorksUnpacking Standards in Grade-Level Teams Video: building expertise in using grade-level standards to guide professional learning communities in supporting students' reading achievement.


 * Doing What Works: Reciprocal Teaching- Helping Students Take Charge: Reciprocal Teaching has been shown as a instructional approach to enhance students' reading comprehension. (You will see Reciprocal Teaching referenced many times throughout this study guide! This video is worth watching as an introduction to the method.)