Describe an effective strategy for teaching reading comprehension.

Using guided reading sessions to build skills gradually is an effective strategy for teaching reading comprehension because this approach actively engages students in the reading process. Guided reading allows teachers to tailor instruction to meet the diverse needs of learners, offering support and direction as they navigate texts. This method emphasizes understanding rather than merely decoding words, fostering critical thinking and deeper comprehension.

During guided reading, teachers can assess individual student levels and select appropriate texts, ensuring that each student is challenged yet capable of understanding the material. This personalized attention enables students to develop strategies for making sense of what they read, such as predicting, questioning, and summarizing. Additionally, it promotes collaborative learning, as students can share insights and discuss their thoughts with peers, which further enhances comprehension skills.

In contrast, solely encouraging silent reading might not provide the necessary support for students to develop comprehension strategies, and relying on memorization of whole texts or focusing only on vocabulary lists does not foster the critical thinking and interpretative skills that are essential for effective reading comprehension.