What teaching principle is demonstrated by informing students of the reading objective before a story?

Informing students of the reading objective before a story is an effective strategy that helps increase comprehension through heightened awareness of focus and expectations. This approach allows students to understand what they should pay attention to while they read, which guides their thought processes and critical thinking skills as they engage with the material. By making the objective clear, students can better organize their thinking around key themes or concepts presented in the text, enhancing their understanding and retention of the information.

In contrast, various other options might not directly relate to the benefit gained from establishing learning objectives. For instance, while encouraging independence in learning is important, it does not specifically address how informing students of objectives impacts comprehension during reading. Similarly, using assessments to gauge understanding relates to evaluating students after the lesson rather than preparing them during it, and creating a competitive environment does not foster the same supportive context that clarity of purpose provides for comprehension.