Syntax: Its Role in Reading Comprehension
Slide Deck (with links to resources)
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The Spotlight on Structured Literacy series is an annual, free webinar series offered by IDA Georgia and The Reading League Georgia. The series features experts in the field, and the one-hour webinars include live Q&A and the option to earn a Certificate of Attendance.
Learn about the 2026 Series: https://ga.dyslexiaida.org/2026-spotlight-on-structured-literacy-webinar-series/
In this second webinar in the IDA-GA/TRL-GA 2026 Spotlight on Structured Literacy series, Nancy Eberhardt will present on the connection between syntax and comprehension.
Syntax, the term for sentence-level language structures, governs how words are arranged to make meaning. Sentences are the building blocks of text, so readers must derive meaning from individual sentences in order to attain text-level comprehension (Scott, 2009). The sentence is the linguistic environment that determines the meaning of many words making the relationship between syntax and vocabulary important to reading comprehension.
This session will focus on the relationship between the eight grammatical elements, each with a specific meaning-based function, and syntactic structures. From there, the session will illustrate how instruction can capitalize on and foster these connections through the intentional selection of words, text, and instructional activities. By utilizing effective instructional practices at the sentence level, teachers can facilitate text comprehension based on the text material used in their instructional settings.
Please join this session to learn how syntax plays a role in reading comprehension.
Nancy Chapel Eberhardt is an educational consultant with extensive experience as a resource teacher, special education administrator, and professional development provider.
She has co-authored several literacy materials, including Sortegories™ with Sheryl Ferlito, LANGUAGE! The Comprehensive Literacy Curriculum with Jane Fell Greene, and the Literacy How Professional Learning Series with Margie Gillis. She is currently a consultant with the 95 Percent Group and the Reading Universe taxonomy project. She serves as co-editor in chief for IDA’s Perspectives on Language and Literacy. Nancy is a strong advocate for preventing reading underachievement by supporting teachers with professional development and evidence-based resources.
Check the IDA Membership Portal for the Winter 2025 Part 1 & Part 2 Issues of Perspectives on Language & Literacy. Nancy Chapel Eberhardt co-authored with Margie Gillis “Teaching Syntax: What Teachers Are Asking.”
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