What is an effective strategy for teaching comprehension skills?

Engaging students in active discussion of texts is an effective strategy for teaching comprehension skills because it fosters deeper understanding and critical thinking. When students participate in discussions about what they have read, they are encouraged to articulate their thoughts, ask questions, and explore different interpretations of the text. This interaction promotes active engagement with the material, allowing students to process information more thoroughly and connect ideas within the text and to their own experiences.

Active discussions also help students learn to support their viewpoints with evidence from the text, which enhances their ability to analyze and synthesize information. Furthermore, this collaborative approach exposes students to diverse perspectives, which can deepen their comprehension and appreciation of various themes and nuances present in the text. By creating a classroom environment where dialogue about reading is encouraged, teachers can facilitate a more meaningful and lasting understanding of the material among their students.