Which strategy helps students engage with the meanings of a text during reading comprehension?

Asking questions at critical junctures during reading comprehension is a highly effective strategy for engaging students with the meanings of a text. This approach encourages students to think critically about the content as they read, promoting active engagement and deeper understanding. By posing questions at key points—whether about characters' motivations, the implications of certain events, or the overall themes—students are prompted to pause and reflect on what they have read so far. This interaction with the text fosters a more analytical mindset and helps them make connections between the text and their prior knowledge.

Engaging with the text through questioning also allows students to clarify their understanding and address any confusion they may have in real-time, rather than waiting until after they have finished reading. This can lead to richer discussions, improved retention of information, and the ability to draw inferences, which are all critical components of reading comprehension.