Reading Comprehension (to me... the most important aspect of reading!!)

 Source:  Reading Rockets.

What makes a skilled reader?

Why is it that reading comes more easily to some children than others? What makes a skilled reader? Reading researchers have described skilled reading in different ways (Duke, Pearson, Strachan & Billman, 2009; Sedita, 2006; National Reading Panel, 2000), but there are abilities and behaviors that most skilled readers seem to have in common:

• A clear purpose for reading and an ability to monitor and adjust their reading to serve that purpose
• Word attack skills that allow them to accurately, and automatically decode words
• Vocabulary knowledge and oral language skills that help them understand the meaning of words and sentences
• Background knowledge, including content knowledge and literacy knowledge
• Thinking and verbal reasoning skills such as drawing inferences
• Strategies for constructing and revising meaning as they read, such as making predictions and asking questions about the text
• The motivation to read and apply what they learn

THIS!!!!!! 

Sequence and scaffold: We instinctively sequence and scaffold for our students when we plan instruction so that topics build on and reinforce one another. Taking time to review and reactivate content covered in previous lessons before introducing new information is another way to build from one lesson to the next.

Graphic Organizers are LIFE-SAVERS when teaching ..... especially special education or below grade level readers and writers!