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INTERVENTION STRATEGY:
Reading Comprehension Through Self-Monitoring
Brief Description: Reading Comprehension can be increased through the use of selfmonitoring techniques. According to Joseph (2006), students with good reading
comprehension have learned to utilize self-monitoring to check understanding. Students
can be taught to self-monitor using both direct and indirect, and quantitative and
qualitative methods. Direct methods measure the work a student is producing, while
indirect methods include self-assessment of skills. Quantitative methods measure the
number of occurrences, while qualitative methods are used to review the quality of a
student’s work.
Materials Needed: Data Recording Sheets, as described below.
Implementation: This strategy may be implemented individually or in small groups, and
can be facilitated a by teacher, paraprofessional or adult volunteer. Different means of
self-monitoring are outlined below:
Direct Quantitative Methods
 Frequency Chart
1. Students are given a Frequency Chart (see Tools, below).
2. Students are instructed to read the assigned text.
3. Once the reading is completed, students are instructed to answer as many review
question they can correctly without looking back through the text.
4. After they have answered the questions they chart the number for time one.
5. Once the number is charted, the students are then instructed to review the text and
attempt to answer the remaining question.
6. Once the second attempt has been made to answer the questions, the number is
charted for time two.
7. The students are then instructed to answer the remaining questions using the text.
8. The student keeps track of their results and is encouraged to increase the number
answered correctly from time one.

Text Look-Back
1. Students are given a Tally Chart (see Tools, below).
2. Students are instructed to read the assigned text.
3. Once the reading is completed, students are instructed to answer the review
questions, keeping a tally of how many times they “look back” to the text to help
them.
4. The student keeps track of their results and is encouraged to decrease the number
of times they look back.

Duration Chart
1. Students are given a Duration Tracker (see Tools, below).
2. Students are instructed to read the assigned text.
3. Once reading is completed, students are timed on how long it takes them to retell
the story.
4. The student keeps track of their results and is encouraged to increase the length
of their retold stories.
Direct Qualitative Method
 Narration
1. Student is instructed to read the assigned text.
2. Once reading has been completed, the student provides a narrative of what was
read (either written or oral with a tape recorder).
3. The students then evaluate the quality of their writing using a Narrative Rubric
(see Tools, below).
4. The student keeps track of their results and is encouraged to increase the length of
their retold stories.
Indirect Quantitative Method
 Self-Perception
1. Students are provided with a Skill-Use Perception sheet (see Tools, below).
2. The student decides which technique to use prior to beginning the reading
assignment.
3. The student is instructed to read the assigned text.
4. Once the reading is finished the student completes the Skill-Use Perception sheet.
5. The student keeps track of their results, and improvement is encouraged.
Variation: n/a
Schedule for implementation:
This intervention should occur a minimum of 3 days each week. Progress can be
monitored by reviewing the students’ charts, through review questions, and tests.
Research Summary & References:
Joseph, L. M. (2006).Understanding, Assessing, and Intervening on Reading Problems.
Bethesda, MD.
Tools/ Attachments:
The file entitled “Frequency Chart” in the TOOLS folder on this disk contains a
reproducible handout.
The file entitled “Duration Tracker” in the TOOLS folder on this disk contains a
reproducible handout.
The file entitled “Narrative Rubric” in the TOOLS folder on this disk contains a
reproducible handout.
The file entitled “Skill-Use Perception” in the TOOLS folder on this disk contains a
reproducible handout.