THE EXPLICIT TEACHING AF READING COMPREHENSION. IMPACT ANALYSIS OF AN INTERVENTION PROGRAM

ABSTRACT In this paper, the intervention program Aprender a compreender torna mais fácil o saber for 3rd and 4th primary school grades is presented. Its main goal is to develop students’ reading comprehension, reading strategies and metacomprehension competences. The program was administered to a sample of 1,142 students of the 4th grade. The evaluation of results was designed as a single group with both pre- and post-tests. The results showed statistically significant differences between both moment of evaluation, and the results obtained by these students in the Portuguese Language Exam in 2012 showed that: the percentage of students that obtained A and B scores was higher than the national average; the percentage of the ones who obtained D and E scores was lower than the percentages obtained nationally. Future studies should be designed with the inclusion of a control group and should evaluate teachers’ perceptions about the program and its efficacy.