Which of the following strategies would be most effective for building comprehension skills among early readers?

Using context clues to understand words is a highly effective strategy for building comprehension skills among early readers. This approach helps students learn to deduce the meaning of unfamiliar words through surrounding text, which promotes both vocabulary development and reading fluency. By teaching children to identify context clues—such as synonyms, antonyms, or examples within the text—they become more confident in tackling challenging material. This ability not only enhances comprehension for the specific text they are reading but also fosters independent reading strategies that children can apply in future reading experiences.

Encouraging silent reading, while beneficial for fostering a love of reading, does not directly engage students in improving their comprehension skills as much as the active process of utilizing context clues does. Assigning reading logs can promote accountability for reading habits, but it may not necessarily lead to a deeper understanding of the material unless it’s coupled with reflective activities that engage comprehension. Developing individualized reading plans can support tailored learning but requires significant resources and planning that may not be feasible for all settings. In contrast, teaching context clues is a straightforward, adaptable strategy that can be readily implemented in various contexts to enhance comprehension for all early readers.