Abstract of

Comprehension Instruction in Content Area Classes

Paul Neufeld

This article provides a broad introduction to comprehension instruction in content area classrooms. It begins with a brief overview of research and of thinking processes involved in reading comprehension. Then, it outlines several research-supported comprehension strategies, including

• Question asking and answering

• Clarifying a purpose for reading

• Activating relevant prior knowledge

• Making predictions about text

• Attending to text structure

• Creating summaries (oral, written, and visual)

• Monitoring comprehension

• Using fix-up strategies

The article ends with a description of how to teach comprehension strategies so students can apply them in understanding the texts they read. The instructional process occurs in two overlapping phases: explicit instruction of individual strategies, and teaching for self-regulated strategy use.

Abstract from Neufeld, P. (2005, December). Comprehension Instruction in Content Area Classes. The Reading Teacher, 59(4), 302–312. doi: 10.1598/RT.59.4.1