In this episode, Deedee Wills and Hilary Statum dive into Chapter 6 of The Next Steps in Literacy Instruction, focusing on one of the most complex—and critical—components of reading: reading comprehension. Together, they unpack how comprehension develops, why it must be taught from the very beginning, and how it weaves together decoding, vocabulary, background knowledge, listening comprehension, and metacognition.
Using real classroom stories and research-based practices, Deedee and Hilary explore how teachers act as “reading detectives,” identifying where comprehension breaks down for struggling readers and planning targeted instruction in small groups and read-alouds. The conversation highlights the process vs. product of reading, the importance of active student engagement, and why comprehension is not a one-day lesson but an ongoing instructional focus.
You’ll also hear practical strategies for:
Teaching comprehension through interactive read-alouds
Building listening comprehension and background knowledge in early grades
Using retelling, sentence frames, and partner talk to deepen understanding
Understanding the role of text, reader, and task in comprehension
Supporting students with limited prior knowledge or language exposure
Modeling metacognitive strategies so students learn how good readers think
Whether you teach kindergarten, first grade, or upper elementary, this episode reinforces why reading aloud, intentional questioning, and student talk are essential for building strong, thoughtful readers. If you’re looking for research-aligned, classroom-ready ideas to strengthen literacy instruction, this conversation brings it all together.
Keywords: reading comprehension, literacy instruction, read-aloud strategies, listening comprehension, background knowledge, early literacy, struggling readers, small group instruction, metacognition, elementary reading instruction
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