What approach involves highly skilled teachers providing explicit and systematic instruction to struggling readers?

The correct approach that involves highly skilled teachers providing explicit and systematic instruction to struggling readers is intervention. This term encompasses a range of strategies designed specifically to support students who are having difficulties in reading. In an intervention context, teachers assess students to identify their specific needs and then tailor instruction to address those needs, using targeted methods that are proven to be effective in helping students progress.

Intervention strategies are typically characterized by a structured framework that allows educators to deliver high-quality teaching directly aligned with evidence-based practices. This method often includes regular monitoring of student progress to adjust instruction as necessary, ensuring that each student is making the gains they need.

In contrast, while direct instruction emphasizes a clear and structured teaching approach, it does not inherently focus on the tailored support needed for struggling readers in the same way as intervention does. Scaffolding refers to support provided to help students learn new concepts and skills, typically in a more gradual and less intensive manner than that found in interventions. Support instruction generally implies additional help, but lacks the specificity and targeted outcomes associated with intervention programs.