Comparison of the effectiveness and efficiency of text previewing and preteaching keywords as small-group reading comprehension strategies with middle-school students

Reading instruction for middle- and high-school students is focused on vocabulary and comprehension, yet research suggests that comprehension skills among these students are alarmingly low. Small-group reading interventions are becoming more prevalent in schools, but there are few studies regarding small- group reading comprehension interventions. The current study compared the effectiveness and efficiency of two evidence-based small-group interventions for struggling eighthgrade readers. All participants received a text previewing comprehension strategy and a keyword preteaching strategy in counterbalanced order. Results suggested similar effectiveness between the two strategies but efficiency greatly favored the keyword strategy. Directions for future research are included.