Narrative reading comprehension instruction typically begins with narrative texts like fables and fairy tales because children are familiar with story structures at an early age. Teachers model comprehension strategies like asking questions, making predictions, visualizing, summarizing, and discussing stories in a group. As students work on narrative texts, teachers guide them to connect the stories to their own lives and world knowledge. Effective comprehension instruction of narrative texts should begin as early as students start reading and continue through high school, with assessments used to diagnose needs and guide further instruction.

1. Chapter 14: Narrative Reading Teaching Reading Sourcebook 2nd edition

2. Narrative Reading Comprehension instruction typically begins with narrative text because children develop an awareness of narrative text early; connect narrative text elements to their own lives. Types of Narrative Text include fables, folk tales, fairy tales fantasies, science fiction myths, legends, tall tales plays, poems, short stories, novels

3. Story Structure Recognizing story structure is a prerequisite to effective strategy use. Knowing story structure helps students identify what is relevant for understanding. Story elements include: setting characters plot theme A story map is a graphic organizer for narrative text structure.

4. Strategy Application Asking questions Initially teachers model the types of questions readers need to ask while reading. Answering questions Teacher directed questions can encourage deeper levels of comprehension. Monitoring Comprehension Teachers model thinking aloud self monitoring questions. Connecting to World Knowledge Teachers guide students to connect to relevant prior experiences or to other stories.

5. Strategy Application Predicting Teachers guide students to make predictions based on prior knowledge or story structure. Constructing Mental Images Teachers provide explicit teaching to help students create mental images as they read. Summarizing Narrative text summaries often take the form of retelling and focus on story elements. Transactional Strategies Emphasize collaborative discussion among learners.

6. Research on Transactional Theories Meaning is not found in text alone but is constructed by reader and text. Group interpretation is different from that of any single reader. Over time, group work helps students internalize the processes of the group. Reader Response to Literature: This refers to how readers form personal responses through discussion and writing. Transactional Strategies Instruction TSI: This emphasizes collaborative discussion, metacognition, motivation and reader response.

7. When to Teach, Assess, Intervene Comprehension instruction should begin as soon as students interact with text and continue through high school. Students learn comprehension strategies in tandem with word-level strategies. Reliable comprehension assessment should be aligned with instruction and include: ongoing assessments of strategy use; retellings, student think aloud protocols, and other process-focused measures, which can be used for diagnosing and remediation.