For the first half of grade 1, comprehension strategies and skills have been introduced through the reading of Big Books. Collaborative conversations discussing the selections in the Big Book, raising questions, and making connections-have also been part of comprehension. At the same time, the children have been learning to decode—making sure the children have the solid foundation and tools they need to read text. They have learned about the sounds and spellings and how to blend in order to read fluently. The reading of the Student Anthology is a major benchmark for children. This is where decoding and comprehension merge and the children read with purpose and understanding—that is, they read with comprehension.