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Chapter 8: Promoting Comprehension: Reader Factors
I: Overview
Comprehension is affected by both reader factors and text factors. Chapter 8 addresses reader
factors which include the background knowledge that readers bring to the reading process as well
as the strategies they use while reading and their motivation and engagement in the reading
experience.
Chapter 8 Objectives
After reading this chapter, students should be able to:
1 Identify factors which affect students’ comprehension.
Chapter 8 Outline
Vignette: Mrs. Donnelly Teaches Comprehension Strategies
Introduction
WHAT IS COMPREHENSION?
• Reader and Text Factors
TEACHING ABOUT READER FACTORS
• Explicit Comprehension Instruction
MOTIVATION
• The Teacher’s Role
• Students’ Role
II: Teaching Suggestions
Preview Questions
Chapter 8 introduces pre-service teachers to the reader factors which can affect comprehension.
1. What are the characteristics of capable readers?
2. Can two people read the same text for different purposes?
Focus Questions
Pre-service teachers should consider the questions which follow as they read chapter 8.
1. How do capable and less capable readers differ?
Class Activity
Making Connections
As they are reading, capable readers make three types of connections: text-to-self, text-to-world,
and text-to-text. Ask your college students to form groups to discuss a story with which everyone
After Class Activity
Lesson Planning/Enhancing Comprehension
The minilesson provided in chapter 8 shows the way in which a third grade teacher helps her
students use the questioning strategy. Ask your college students to review the minilesson and use
III. Resources
Related Readings
Encourage students to explore chapter 8 topics in more depth by reading the journal articles and
books listed below.
Applegate, M.D., Quinn, K.B., & Applegate, A. J. (2008). The critical reading inventory:
Assessing students’ reading and thinking (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Online Resources
Boys Read: Considering Courage in Novels
This lesson plan, published on the Read Write Think website, helps teachers find books and
Girls Read: Online Literature Circles
In addition to classroom literature circles, girls can also participate in online literature circles to
discuss quality literature with peers. This lesson plan, published on the Read Write Think
Play Ball! Encouraging Critical Thinking Through Baseball Questions
Use your students’ interest in sports to develop their ability to form questions. This lesson plan,
Seuss and Silverstein: Posing Questions, Presenting Points
Although teachers usually use the work of Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein with very young
children, these authors offer messages for students of all ages. Teachers can use this lesson plan,
