“Reading comprehension is the conversation that exists between the text and the reader’s brain and soul. It results in sorting and saving information that can be meaningfully retrieved and used.”
- Margaret Joanne Cotton 2003
 Comprehension Conversations teaches readers to control and direct that conversation. It dramatically shifts the focus from a teacher-directed guided reading model to a differentiated student-directed model. It is substantially different from most reading programs as it creates comprehension during the reading process not during post-reading activities. Teacher training provides for immediate implementation using existing curriculum materials.
Margaret Joanne Cotton presents a dynamic program using eight basic learning strategies to create comprehension. Teacher development pays immediate dividends since it reorganizes recognized best practices rather than introducing trendy new jargon. In the presentation the eight strategies are identified and explored, but the excitement comes from the unique kinesthetic components that shift the focus from teacher-directed guided reading to a student-directed model. The program empowers teachers to more effectively monitor silent reading and simplify interactive group discussions.
Comprehension Conversations’ differentiated instruction taps into students’ learning styles and interests without requiring teachers to spend precious time and money creating or purchasing extensive new materials. Students quickly learn to use the strategies across the curriculum. For ages teachers have used notation for editing writing samples, but Comprehension Conversations provides a new notation for revision that is useful in all subjects, even in personal narratives and creative writing. Using this notation, the eight strategies are then a practical aid to the improvement of students’ responses to open-ended questions similar to those on state standardized tests such as NJASK.
Companion Parent - Home Programs provide a partnership with informed and confident parents by providing positive communication of expected standards and methods. |
