What does teaching skills and strategies during reading help students achieve?

Teaching skills and strategies during reading primarily aims to enhance students' comprehension of the text. When students learn how to actively engage with the material—such as making predictions, summarizing content, and asking questions—they are more likely to understand and retain the information being presented. This engagement boosts their ability to interpret meaning, analyze themes, and connect ideas, all of which are integral components of strong comprehension.

Focusing on teaching reading strategies allows students to approach texts more critically and thoughtfully, leading to a deeper understanding of the material. While improving vocabulary and spelling can be beneficial outcomes of effective reading instruction, they are generally secondary to the primary goal of fostering comprehension.