Why is it important for reading instruction to include comprehension strategies?

Including comprehension strategies in reading instruction is crucial because these strategies enhance students' analytical skills. Comprehension strategies help students engage with texts on a deeper level, allowing them to critically assess and interpret the information they read. By employing these strategies, students learn to identify main ideas, draw inferences, summarize content, and examine the structure and purpose of texts. This not only improves their understanding but also fosters higher-order thinking skills, such as evaluation and synthesis, which are essential for academic success across various subjects.

While improving analytical skills is a primary reason for teaching comprehension strategies, it also indirectly supports other educational goals, such as enhancing writing abilities and preparing for standardized tests. However, the main focus of comprehension instruction is to cultivate those critical thinking skills that enable meaningful interaction with text.