Reading comprehension instruction doesn't line up with what the evidence shows can work—and it goes on way too long. A recent meta-analysis confirms that it’s best to teach reading comprehension ...

Although the focus in the early grades is often on teaching young children how to read, the ultimate goal of reading is to understand the text—whether to learn new information or simply enjoy a story.

Nearly a half century ago, a landmark study showed that teachers weren’t explicitly teaching reading comprehension. Once children learned how to read words, no one taught them how to make sense of the ...