Why is it important to teach comprehension strategies explicitly?

Teaching comprehension strategies explicitly is important because it provides students with structured methods to understand and analyze texts effectively. By explicitly teaching these strategies, educators empower students to engage with reading material in a meaningful way, enabling them to identify key ideas, make inferences, and synthesize information. These strategies can include techniques like summarizing, questioning, clarifying, and predicting, which help students to not only comprehend the material they are reading but also to reflect on it critically.

When comprehension strategies are explicitly taught, students gain the skills they need to navigate various types of texts independently, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of literature and informational texts alike. This approach also helps bridge the gap for learners who may struggle with reading comprehension, providing them with tools to improve their reading abilities and elevate their academic performance.