Research shows that a consistent, strategic approach is the key to successfully developing comprehension skills.
To support Australian primary school teachers in addressing the comprehension challenge, we have developed a new research-based guided reading program focusing on the development of comprehension skills: Oxford Reading for Comprehension.
See what teachers have to say
NEW DECODABLE SERIES FOR F–2 Oxford Reading for Comprehension Decodables
ORFC Decodables is a unique, fully decodable, guided reading series that supports strong early vocabulary acquisition. It is underpinned by a proven, finely sequenced phonics framework aligned to Letters and Sounds and a research-based Comprehension Skills Framework.
Download the Teacher Evaluation Pack and Student Book sample pages
Complete this form to download sample pages for five of our newest Student Books and the Oxford Reading for Comprehension Teacher Handbook Evaluation Pack, which includes information about the series, an overview of the Comprehension Skills Framework, implementation support, tips for guided reading and an example lesson plan.
The series comprises 290 full-colour engaging fiction and non-fiction books with captivating characters and stories designed to appeal to young Australians. 250 titles published in 2018 and 40 more just published for 2020. All 290 texts have been carefully levelled for Years F–3 against Oxford Levels 1+ to 11 and Reading Levels 1 to 26*.
The series is organised into 10 popular themes: Fantasy, Animals, Family and Friends, Food, Places, Environment, Health and Sport, Australian Stories, Art, and History.
Every text supports the teaching of one of the five comprehension strategies from the Comprehension Skills Framework.
Comprehension Coaching Cards provide before, during and after reading guidance, assisting teachers in modelling and teaching comprehension strategies and the use of metacognitive ‘think aloud’ prompts. Comprehension questions monitor students' use of comprehension skills to provide support before, during and after reading.
Teacher notes for EAL/D students are included to support all readers in the classroom, while practical activities support teachers in monitoring students' comprehension of the text.
Teacher Handbook
The Oxford Reading for Comprehension Teacher Handbook provides clear guidance for the explicit teaching, modelling and practice of comprehension strategies and skills using the Comprehension Skills Framework.
This printed resource provides accessible, focused support for all levels of the series, including an accessible explanation of the Comprehension Skills Framework and its application across the series.
The Teacher Handbook provides definitions and guidance on how to model the comprehension strategies and skills, and use the metacognitive 'think aloud' prompts and strategy tips. The Teacher Handbook also offers guidance on monitoring and assessment using the program.
Oxford Owl
Additional downloadable resources for Oxford Reading for Comprehension are available on Oxford Owl.
Resources include: 290 Comprehension Activity Sheets, one for every guided reading text, graphic organiser templates for use in the classroom, lists of Oxford Wordlist words featured in every text, flashcards, student assessment record templates, a guided reading text selector tool, and videos of in-class guided reading sessions showcasing best practice.
Oxford Reading Buddy (Beta)
A selection of Oxford Reading for Comprehension guided reading texts will be available on our unique digital reading service, currently in Beta and launching in 2021, along with titles from our Project X, Oxford Reading Tree and TreeTops series.
Oxford Reading Buddy gives every child a virtual reading coach to help them develop deeper comprehension skills. With an eBook library based on the Oxford Levels framework, each child can learn at precisely the right pace, and motivational rewards woven into the reading experience encourage a love of reading.
Teachers are able to track and monitor students’ application of comprehension skills with after-reading quizzes for all Reading for Comprehension texts, based on the Comprehension Skills Framework.
Strong reading skills are key to students’ overall success at school and beyond. Oxford Levels support all students to progress at every stage of their reading journey.
Oxford Reading for Comprehension provides complete support for the development of comprehension strategies and skills through every step of the teaching and learning pathway.
Teach & Model
Teacher Handbook
Comprehension Coaching Cards
Guided Practice
Guided reading texts
Comprehension Coaching Cards
Independent Practice
Guided reading texts
Comprehension Activity Sheets
Monitor and Assess
Quizzes on Oxford Reading Buddy
Comprehension Activity Sheets
Comprehension Skills Framework
Comprehension Skill Category
Linked Comprehension Strategies
Finding information
Determine importance
Monitor comprehension
Activate prior knowledge
Ask questions
Visualise
Making connections and inferences
Infer
Predict
Monitor comprehension
Visualise
Ask questions
Activate prior knowledge
Determine importance
Understanding vocabulary
Monitor comprehension
Infer
Visualise
Ask questions
Using structure and organisation to make meaning
Monitor comprehension
Determine importance
Infer
Activate prior knowledge
Appreciating and understanding author’s toolkit
Infer
Activate prior knowledge
Ask questions
Visualise
At home reading
Parent notes are included on the inside front cover of every guided reading text. These provide easy-to-use guidance for productive reading sessions at home, reinforcing the work taking place in the classroom.
Easy-to-use guidance
Instructions have been carefully worded for ease of use and include tips to help parents with reluctant or struggling readers.
Questions reflect the Comprehension Skills Framework, encouraging reading for meaning, reading for pleasure, and reinforcing classroom work.
Comprehension research and the classroom: Bridging the gap
ON-DEMAND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEBINAR
Join Oxford University Press in discussion with Susan Taylor, classroom teacher and literacy specialist, about the latest in comprehension research.
This webinar discusses the role of teachers as ‘expert readers’; demonstrates practical classroom application of key comprehension research findings; and explores how Oxford has used the latest comprehension research to develop our Oxford Reading for Comprehension series and its Comprehension Skills Framework.
Watch our free series on best-practice comprehension teaching!
Watch our five-part series on comprehension teaching in just 40 minutes! Presented by educator and literacy specialist, Susan Taylor, this series explores how you can help your students develop the comprehension strategies and skills they need to succeed.
FREE COMPREHENSION WHITEPAPER A guide to the research on best-practice teaching of comprehension in today’s world
At Oxford, we believe a consistent approach to teaching comprehension as part of your overall literacy instruction will help address the comprehension challenge. To support schools to achieve this we have developed a guide to the research on best-practice teaching of comprehension in today’s world.