What is the appropriate balance of foundational skills and language comprehension in reading instruction for K–2?
Balance between foundational skills and language comprehension. Kinder & 1st 50/50, 2nd begins to focus a little more on comprehension.
What is an inference?
A logical guess based on evidence in the text and prior knowledge.
What’s the best way to build vocabulary for comprehension?
Teach high-utility words in context and across multiple exposures.
Why is it important to focus on writing instruction, even in the early grades?
writing is expected across all academic areas, job requirements, skills need to build on each grade, benefits reading instruction
What are some of the components of a high-quality text?
topics have longevity, several layers of meaning, rich vocabulary, interesting sentence structure, appropriate for age, relevant to learning
Which type of question requires students to infer beyond the text?
Evaluative or inferential questions.
How can reading build background knowledge?
By exposing students to new concepts, places, and events.
How does writing support reading development?
It deepens comprehension, reinforces vocabulary, and enhances text structure understanding.
Name three comprehension strategies supported by research.
monitoring comprehension, using graphic organizers, asking and answering questions, retelling, summarizing, cooperative learning, text structure
What is the purpose of after-reading activities?
help/guide students make the meaning or information their own and embed it in their long-term memory.
Why is Tier 2 vocabulary critical for comprehension?
These words appear across many texts and are key to understanding complex ideas.
Why is writing difficult for many students?
it is the last developed and most complex language skill, requires integration of many skills (fine motor, encoding, organization, expression
What types of questioning should be used during comprehension instruction? Name 3.
Explicit (answer stated in the text), Implicit (Answer requires inference), Elaborative (answer requires extended, integrated thinking)
What are some effective after-reading activities?
re-reading, oral responses with partner, retelling, acting out, visual representation, reader’s response journal (written response)
What’s one technique for teaching unfamiliar words in text?
pre-teach, use context clues, and direct explanation during read-alouds or shared reading.
How can you integrate writing into comprehension instruction?
Use shared writing, quick writes, constructed responses, and summaries tied to texts.
The teacher’s role in comprehension is to facilitate students’ construction of the text’s meaning. What are some methods for facilitating their meaning-making?
thoughtful planning and understanding of the purpose, text structure, identifying vocabulary, building background knowledge, asking thoughtful questions, providing opportunities for all students to share thinking through collaborative conversations, providing opportunities for independent application.
How would you scaffold inference instruction for struggling readers?
Provide explicit modeling, use sentence starters, scaffold with forced choice, and focus on high-utility texts.
Challenge Question! The answer is in the LETRS Manual, but not Unit 7 or 8
What is the “Matthew Effect” in relation to vocabulary and knowledge?
Students with more vocabulary and knowledge read more and gain more, while those with less fall further behind.
What is the simple view of writing?
foundational writing skills x composition = skilled written expression