ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the development of the comprehension first proposal by zeroing in on comprehension best practices. It introduces five comprehension factors: learners, teachers, tasks, texts, and context. Two of these factors— supportive teachers who create supportive classroom contexts— are discussed as "preconditions" that set the stage for successful implementation of nine comprehension best practices. The International Reading Association (IRA), the best-known professional literacy organization in the world, used numerous large-scale research studies to craft a position statement on best practices. The statement should serve as an important guide for every school's comprehension curriculum and each teacher's instruction. IRA recommends that teachers possess a "wide range of instructional methods and have strong knowledge of the children in their classrooms." IRA further recommends that teachers be in charge of deciding which methods to use and have the flexibility to modify instruction to meet specific student needs.
