Introduction

Nelson Literacy Directions Comprehension builds on the popular Nelson Literacy Directions series.

Specifically designed to make the comprehension process visible, Nelson Literacy Directions Comprehension focuses on the core strategies and skills used when making meaning from text.

By focusing explicitly on the core strategies and skills, the program deconstructs the comprehension process for young readers, thereby enabling students to focus on their reading comprehension and monitor and repair their understanding.

The components in Nelson Literacy Directions Comprehension are closely linked to form a cohesive and comprehensive literacy program. Packaged in a handy box set, each level comprises:

• Levelled Exemplar Cards
• Exemplar Digital Texts software, available on CD-ROM and at nldcomprehension.com with an individual access code, for use on desktops, tablets and interactive whiteboards
• Videos embedded within the Exemplar Digital Texts
• Teacher's Resource CD-ROM.

Teacher's Resource CD-ROMs

The Teacher's Resource CD-ROM provides lesson plans for all texts in each
Nelson Literacy Directions Comprehension Box Set.
Each lesson plan includes notes on the following areas:

• Comprehension
• Visual Literacy
• Vocabulary in Context
• Grammatical Patterns
• Critical Literacy.

Teacher's Resource CD-ROM features:

• lesson plans for the Exemplar Digital Texts, designed for whole-class modelling of reading, writing and using the core comprehension strategies and skills
• lesson plans for Levelled Exemplar Cards, designed for guided reading and practice using the core comprehension strategies and skills. 
• Printable blackline masters with activities for:
  
  • analysing the texts in relation to each of the core comprehension strategies and skills
  • analysing the texts in relation to grammatical patterns
  • extending beyond the texts by planning independent writing in accordance with the text structure and language features of each key text type.

Levelled Exemplar Cards

The Levelled Exemplar Cards provide carefully levelled fiction and non-fiction texts for guided and independent reading practice with a wide range of text types and text forms. There are six copies of 27 different cards in each Nelson Literacy Directions Box Set. Each Levelled Exemplar Card focuses on a core comprehension skill, which is labelled on the front of the card and reflected in the Strategy to Skill questions that are provided on page 6 of each card. The questions encourage readers to use various core comprehension strategies with the focus skill. Answers to the Strategy to Skill comprehension questions are available in the lesson plans on the Teacher's Resource CD-ROM. 

Exemplar Digital Texts Software

The Nelson Literacy Directions Comprehension Exemplar Digital Texts software is designed for modelling the use of the core comprehension strategies and skills via whole-class explicit instruction. There is an Exemplar Digitial Text for each of the key text types. Functionality includes text editing, annotations and note-making.

The Exemplar Digital Texts software is available on CD-ROM and at nldcomprehension.com using an individual access code for use on internet-connected computers and tablet devices.