How Our Approach Strengthens Reading Comprehension
Improving reading comprehension requires more than books, more than teachers, and more than libraries on their own. It requires these elements to function together as a system inside the classroom. Our approach connects structured reading practice, trained teachers, reading models, access to literature, circulating libraries, and inviting reading environments so that students are continuously supported before, during, and after reading.
Inside a Reading Hour: Step by Step
A reading hour follows a structured process based on evidence-based reading models. Before reading, the teacher activates curiosity and prior knowledge. During reading, students pause to predict, question, and make connections, guided by the teacher. After reading, discussion and reflection help students deepen their understanding.
This structure is described in detail in our Teacher’s Guide, where teachers are provided with concrete prompts and lesson ideas to use in the classroom.
Teachers as Reading Guides and Multipliers
Teachers are trained to guide students’ thinking while they read, using strategies grounded in established reading models. Through the Teacher’s Guide, these strategies are translated into practical classroom actions.
The training is designed so that trained teachers can support and train other teachers in their schools. This multiplier effect creates local capacity and allows the approach to grow and continue beyond the initial training.
The Environment Where Reading Happens
Reading comprehension is strengthened when books are visible, accessible, and part of everyday school life. Libraries, reading spaces, and reading corners create environments that invite students to read more often. Students are involved in shaping these spaces, helping create places where reading feels welcoming and meaningful.
How Circulating Libraries Connect Schools and Public Libraries
Circulating libraries allow books to move between classrooms, schools, and public libraries, ensuring that more students have access to literature. This system connects schools with public library resources and supports continuous access to books beyond a single classroom or lesson. By integrating circulating libraries into the method, reading becomes supported both inside the school and through the public library network.
Built on Evidence-Based Reading Models
The strategies used in reading hours and teacher training are inspired by evidence-based models such as reciprocal learning and transactional strategy instruction. These models emphasize prediction, questioning, connection-making, reflection, and dialogue during reading — helping students learn how to think while they read.
Explore the Teacher’s Guide
The Teacher’s Guide contains the reading strategies, lesson structures, and practical examples used during teacher training and reading hours in classrooms.