Two for One: Using QAR to Increase Reading Comprehension and Improve Test Scores

This teaching tip describes an intervention used in a third-grade classroom implemented to help students pass an end-of-grade reading comprehension test. Low scores on a practice end-of-grade comprehension test prompted a re-examination of classroom reading instruction and a plan for intervention. This teaching tip describes the phases implemented over an eight-week period to add the Question Answer Relationship (QAR) strategy to students' reader's toolboxes to increase comprehension and improve test scores. Most student scores on end-of-grade test increased after this intervention, which supports the use of QAR to improve test scores while furthering literacy development.