A professional development activity that was very beneficial and continues to be was one on Comprehension skills. We were shown the steps in how we would allow the students to first read all their questions. This would give them glimpses of what to expect in the passage or poem. We would then examine and discuss the name of the story or poem. Again this would allow for all the students to contribute what they know about the topic. Further to that they then proceed to read the passage at least twice, which gives the opportunity to underline words/phrases that would be answers as they remember some of the questions they read. The students afterwards go back to answering the questions. 

This strategy has been helping students who need a lot of support. Also, it has been boosting their reading/comprehension skills. What they have missed the first time, they see through this repetition.