What is Comprehension Plus?
Comprehension Plus is a supplemental comprehension program designed to
provide first through sixth grade students with the skills and comprehension
strategies they need to improve their reading comprehension. The goal of this
comprehension program is for students to learn specific reading techniques that
create a purpose for reading and a focus for monitoring their understanding of text.
Teachers, or well-trained paraprofessionals, deliver the 30-minute lessons twice a
week to large or small groups of students. During these lessons, teachers use an
explicit instructional approach to explain and model the new skill, provide guided
practice on a short passage, and encourage independent practice on a longer
passage.
Instruction for Comprehension Plus follows a spiraled approach where specific
comprehension strategies are taught, applied through reading and writing activities,
and reviewed within and across all levels of the program. Each lesson consists of
three parts: Teach, Practice, and Apply. In the “Teach” section of the lesson, the
instructor follows the lesson objective and the “teaching tips” that connect the skill to
its underlying purpose by explaining and modeling how to use the comprehension
strategy. The teacher uses interactive activities to clarify concepts and guide the
students in applying the new skill. In the “Practice” section of the lesson, new
vocabulary related to the passages, new comprehension skills, and a review of
several previously taught strategies are practiced through reading and answering
questions about two different passages. A variety of practice formats (multiple
choice, question and answer, written responses, and graphic organizers) help the
student solidify their understanding of the skill. In the “Apply” section of the lesson,
students are asked to utilize the comprehension strategy they have learned to
interpret meaning as they read from a variety of genres, then apply the knowledge
gained from the reading to produce different written assignments. Every lesson also
includes a related phonics activity, strategies to help English Language learners,
activities involving multiple modalities, and suggestions for a
home-school connection.