95 Percent Comprehension 

Comprehension, 4th - 5th Grade

95 Percent Comprehension is a literacy intervention designed to help 4th and 5th graders improve their reading comprehension skills. The name refers to the goal of helping students understand at least 95% of what they read, which means they can confidently follow and engage with the text. This program is especially useful for students who may struggle with understanding and making sense of what they read, even if they can read the words correctly.

Here are the core components of 95 Percent Comprehension:

1. Focused on Reading Comprehension: This program specifically targets comprehension skills, meaning it helps students understand the meaning behind the words they are reading. It teaches strategies for thinking critically about the text, answering questions, and making connections to what they already know.

2. Close Reading Strategies: The program uses close reading, which means students read passages carefully and thoughtfully, often more than once, to fully understand the text. They learn to look for important details, analyze the author's message, and think deeply about what they’ve read.

3. Explicit Instruction: Teachers provide clear, step-by-step lessons on how to approach a text and use comprehension strategies. These strategies include summarizing, asking and answering questions, predicting what might happen next, and identifying the main ideas and themes.

4. Interactive Discussions: Students are encouraged to discuss what they’ve read in small groups or as a class. These discussions help students build their understanding by hearing different perspectives and clarifying any confusion they may have.

5. Variety of Texts: The program uses a variety of texts, including stories, informational articles, and nonfiction, to help students practice comprehension across different types of reading materials. This variety helps prepare them for reading both for schoolwork and for pleasure.

6. Frequent Practice and Feedback: Students get plenty of practice with short reading passages and comprehension activities. Teachers regularly provide feedback to help students improve their skills and guide them toward better understanding.

7. Building Vocabulary and Background Knowledge: Understanding new words and having some knowledge about the topic being read are both important for comprehension. The program includes activities to build vocabulary and background knowledge, so students can understand texts more easily.

In summary, 95 Percent Comprehension is a targeted reading program for 4th and 5th graders that focuses on helping students improve their understanding of what they read. Through close reading, explicit instruction, interactive discussions, and regular practice, students develop the strategies and skills needed to confidently comprehend and engage with different types of texts.