Publications | February 2026
Book Abstract: Successful reading comprehension requires readers to draw on a range of language comprehension abilities alongside decoding. This timely teacher reference and text explains how language comprehension develops throughout grades PreK–6 and presents evidence-based instructional strategies. The volume reviews innovative ways to conduct content-rich classroom conversations, deliver strategy and text structure instruction, target motivational aspects of comprehension, use assessment to guide comprehension-focused instruction, and more. Ways to support language and reading comprehension with multilingual and multidialectal learners are considered in depth. Ideal for professional learning within a science-of-reading perspective, each chapter provides guiding questions, research reviews, classroom applications, and reflection questions.
Chapter Abstract: In this chapter, our goal is to provide an understanding of how classroom conversations during content-rich English Language arts (ELA) instruction can support students’ language comprehension. We first discuss the importance of building language comprehension during the early grades. Then, we describe the research on content-rich ELA instruction and where content-rich conversations fit in. Finally, we show how teachers can use the Strive-for-Five framework for classroom conversations to promote language comprehension in preschool through first-grade settings by modeling vocabulary and scaffolding students’ responses during interactive read-alouds.
Published: February 23, 2026
Publication: Language and Literacy Beyond Decoding: Evidence-Based Instruction in Grades PreK-6, Chapter 2
CLI Author: Tricia A. Zucker, PhD
Citation: Silverman, R. D., & Keane, K. (Eds.). (2026). Content-Rich Classroom Conversations That Improve Language Comprehension in the Early Grades. In Language and Literacy Beyond Decoding: Evidence-Based Instruction in Grades PreK-6 (pp. 18-40). The Guilford Press.
ISBN: 9781462559596 (paperback), 9781462559602 (hardcover)