Reciprocal Teaching
Reciprocal Teaching places the burden of the learning task squarely on the learner rather than on the teacher. Research shows it to be a very effective strategy. A 1994 study showed reciprocal teaching to increase comprehension, achievement, and standardized test scores. It has also been shown to be an effective strategy for struggling readers.
One of the reasons that this strategy is so effective is that it combines four powerful reading comprehension strategies: summarization, questioning, clarifying, and prediction to understand text.
In this strategy, the teacher begins by doing much of the work, but instruction shifts as the reader takes on greater responsibility. When student become adept at the strategies, they instruct one another.
Because reciprocal teaching relies on four comprehension strategies, it is best to teach them one at a time so that students can understand each one before combining them together. Each of the four steps below should cover several lessons.
1. Introduce summarizing. Share several short readings and write summary statements as a class.
One of the reasons that this strategy is so effective is that it combines four powerful reading comprehension strategies: summarization, questioning, clarifying, and prediction to understand text.
In this strategy, the teacher begins by doing much of the work, but instruction shifts as the reader takes on greater responsibility. When student become adept at the strategies, they instruct one another.
Because reciprocal teaching relies on four comprehension strategies, it is best to teach them one at a time so that students can understand each one before combining them together. Each of the four steps below should cover several lessons.
1. Introduce summarizing. Share several short readings and write summary statements as a class.