Learn more about the Comprehension Playbook.

The Comprehension Playbook

by Kristina Smekens

Just as an athletic coach operates from a tried and true book of plays, teachers need their own playbook for leading successful whole-class reading comprehension instruction. Supporting a full year of lesson concepts, the Comprehension Playbook provides easy-to-follow guidance on which comprehension skills to teach per grade range. The compilation of "plays" teaches students to:

• Ask & answer questions.
• Retell/Summarize literature.
• Retell/Summarize informational text.
• Track ideas across a text.

• See text organization
• Analyze author choices.
• Compare texts and experiences.
• Synthesize ideas across texts.

Each comprehension play includes:

• A list of the College and Career Ready Standards that support the skill.
• A vision for spiraling and layering instruction throughout the year.
• A detailed description of explicit points to make per instructional round.
• A suggested full-color anchor chart to build and grow throughout the year.
• Text considerations that support each lesson series.
• Access to a members-only site with digital related resources, including Google Docs, PDFs, JPEGs, and more. (NOTE: The access link to the digital resources will be included in binder. No digital links are sent after purchase.)

Available for Grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7-12 as well as bundles for Grades K-5 and K-12. Hard-sided, 3-hole binder.

Do you teach multiple grades? Click here to purchase additional plays to expand your playbook.

Kindergarten | 7 Plays
1. Readers Apply Reader Voices, K-12
2. Readers Write About Texts, K-2
3. Readers Ask & Answer Questions, K-2
4. Readers Retell Literature, K
5. Readers Retell Information, K
6. Readers See Text Organization, K-1
7. Readers Compare Texts, K-5

Grade 1 | 7 Plays
1. Readers Apply Reader Voices, K-12
2. Readers Write About Texts, K-2
3. Readers Ask & Answer Questions, K-2
4. Readers Retell Literature, 1-2
5. Readers Retell Information, 1-2
6. Readers See Text Organization, K-1
7. Readers Compare Texts, K-5

Grade 2 | 8 Plays
1. Readers Apply Reader Voices, K-12
2. Readers Write About Texts, K-2
3. Readers Ask & Answer Questions, K-2
4. Readers Retell Literature, 1-2
5. Readers Retell Information, 1-2
6. Readers See Text Organization, 2-3
7. Readers Analyze Author Choices, 2-3
8. Readers Compare Texts, K-5

Grade 3 | 9 Plays
1. Readers Apply Reader Voices, K-12
2. Readers Write About Texts, 3-12
3. Readers Summarize Literature, 3-4
4. Readers Summarize Information, 3-4
5. Readers Track Ideas, 3-4
6. Readers See Text Organization, 2-3
7. Readers Analyze Author Choices, 2-3
8. Readers Compare Texts, K-5
9. Readers Synthesize Ideas, 3-6

Grade 4 | 9 Plays
1. Readers Apply Reader Voices, K-12
2. Readers Write About Texts, 3-12
3. Readers Summarize Literature, 3-4
4. Readers Summarize Information, 3-4
5. Readers Track Ideas, 3-4
6. Readers See Text Organization, 4-5
7. Readers Analyze Author Choices, 4-6
8. Readers Compare Texts, K-5
9. Readers Synthesize Ideas, 3-6

Grade 5 | 9 Plays
1. Readers Apply Reader Voices, K-12
2. Readers Write About Texts, 3-12
3. Readers Summarize Literature, 5-6
4. Readers Summarize Information, 5-6
5. Readers Track Ideas, 5-6
6. Readers See Text Organization, 4-5
7. Readers Analyze Author Choices, 4-6
8. Readers Compare Texts, K-5
9. Readers Synthesize Ideas, 3-6

Grade 6 | 9 Plays
1. Readers Apply Reader Voices, K-12
2. Readers Write About Texts, 3-12
3. Readers Summarize Literature, 5-6
4. Readers Summarize Information, 5-6
5. Readers Track Ideas, 5-6
6. Readers See Text Organization, 6-12
7. Readers Analyze Author Choices, 4-6
8. Readers Compare Texts, 6-12
9. Readers Synthesize Ideas, 3-6

Grades 7-12 | 8 Plays
1. Readers Apply Reader Voices, K-12
2. Readers Write About Texts, 3-12
3. Readers Summarize Literature, 7-12
4. Readers Summarize Information, 7-12
5. Readers See Text Organization, 6-12
6. Readers Analyze Author Choices, 7-12
7. Readers Compare Texts, 6-12
8. Readers Synthesize Ideas, 7-12

K-12 Bundle | 27 Plays
Readers Apply Reader Voices, K-12
Readers Write About Texts, K-2 | 3-12
Readers Ask & Answer Questions, K-2
Readers Retell/Summarize Literature, K | 1-2 | 3-4 | 5-6 | 7-12
Readers Retell/Summarize Information, K | 1-2 | 3-4 | 5-6 | 7-12
Readers Track Ideas, 3-4 | 5-6
Readers See Text Organization, K-1 | 2-3 | 4-5 | 6-12
Readers Analyze Author Choices, 2-3 | 4-6 | 7-12
Readers Compare Texts, K-5 | 6-12
Readers Synthesize Ideas, 3-6 | 7-12