Improving Reading Comprehension in the Primary Grades

Improving Reading Comprehension in the Primary Grades

Timothy Shanahan

Dr. Timothy Shanahan, chair of the panel that developed the WWC Practice Guide Improving Reading Comprehension in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade, describes the rationale and audience for the guide.

Shanahan summarizes the major instructional recommendations from the practice guide: teach comprehension strategies using carefully selected text, help students identify and use a text’s organizational structure, and establish a motivating environment to engage students with reading and text discussion.