This study was an action research project designed to improve students' reading comprehension. Students in the targeted kindergarten, second, and third grade classes exhibited a lack of reading comprehension, which interfered with their academic achievement. Data was collected by student and parent surveys, observations, and document analysis. Among factors influencing students' reading comprehension were an inability to access prior knowledge, limited vocabulary, lack of phonemic awareness, and family characteristics. According to the literature, advance organizers enabled students to remember important information, and shared knowledge and social interaction aided in students' ability to construct knowledge. For this reason, the implementation of reading strategies that focuses on advance organizers and self-assessment were selected as intervention strategies. Various graphic organizers, an observation checklist, and a document analysis were incorporated into the daily curriculum in the targeted classrooms. Post-intervention data indicated an improvement in accessing prior knowledge, organizing ideas, and strengthening connections to understanding. Appendixes contain a parent survey; a student survey; an observation checklist; and a document analysis. (Contains 29 references, 3 tables, and 5 figures.) (Author/PM)