Reading Comprehension in the Secondary Classroom

Reading is important for the mind and the success of students\u27 academic career (Cunningham, 1998). To read, one must comprehend what has been read; otherwise, there would be no purpose in reading. Comprehension is one of the most important reading skills adolescent students need to possess (Underwood, 1994). Students who have excellent reading comprehension are able to master academic content, read for pleasure, and are more likely to succeed in post-secondary goals. Unfortunately, comprehension strategy skills are not natural skills of students, but rather must be self-taught or taught by someone else. In view of the impact that reading comprehension has on secondary students\u27 success in content area classes, it is essential that effective comprehension strategies be taught by all secondary teachers