The Scaffolding Interrogatives Method (SIM): A Theory-driven and Implementation Science-aligned Framework for advancing Reading Comprehension and Inclusion

The Scaffolding Interrogatives Method (SIM) is a structured, dialogic comprehension framework designed to transform decoding into meaningful understanding through graduated, purposeful questioning. Grounded in socio-constructivist theory, particularly Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development and Bruner’s Instructional Scaffolding, SIM conceptualizes comprehension as an actively mediated process shaped through guided interaction and gradual release of responsibility. Operationalized through sequenced interrogatives (who, what, where, when, why, and how), SIM externalizes the organizational structure of text, making linguistic relationships visible for learners who struggle with inference generation, integration, and metacognitive monitoring. The method is particularly relevant for children with hyperlexia, specific reading comprehension disorder, and other profiles characterized by intact decoding but weak inferential reasoning. By employing a written interrogative matrix and structured supports such as the What Interrogatives Method (WIM), SIM reduces reliance on transient verbal prompting and promotes independent strategy use. Empirical findings, including single-subject intervention research, provide preliminary evidence of improved comprehension performance and increased learner autonomy. Beyond classroom application, SIM aligns with principles of Implementation Science due to its operational clarity, observable components, defined core practices (graduated questioning, responsive scaffolding, and gradual release), and suitability for fidelity monitoring, practitioner training, and system-level scaling. The SIM-based INSPIRE model further demonstrates how interrogative scaffolding can be systematically structured into phased intervention, leading to measurable gains in inferential reasoning and narrative coherence. Collectively, SIM reframes comprehension intervention as an explicit, visual, and transferable cognitive framework that supports independence, academic participation, and inclusive educational practice.