The purpose of this "teaching tips" article is to describe practical classroom instruction that helps elementary students write expository responses to narrative texts. It focuses on the importance of scaffolded, interactive discussions comprised of a combination of teacher think alouds and similar student responses before, during, and…

When response activities and comprehension strategies are combined, classroom instruction can enhance student engagement and understanding of a text, enrich student response, and improve students' awareness of their own strategic reading. This article presents some activities, adapted from the new IRA book "Children's Literature in the Reading…

Describes a method for enhancing students' abilities to answer comprehension questions that categorizes questions according to the source of the information required for the answer. (FL)

Argues that using story frames to guide students' responses to comprehension questions seems to help them provide better answers and to develop their independent comprehension skills. (FL)

Comprehension and interest were high when children read stories where nontraditional sex role behavior was perceived to be appropriate to the action of the story. (MKM)

Argues that providing students with a repertoire of important learning strategies is one crucial way of helping all students to become independent readers, thinkers, and learners. Describes a third grade reading environment and the practices of the Students Achievement Independent Learning Program (SAIL). (PRA)