The aim of the present study is to describe and analyze what modes of discourse for reading comprehension were prominent among six teachers in two different schools in Stockholm, Sweden. Based on a teacher perspective on how to describe, teach and assess reading comprehension, the investigation concentrated on teacher discourses and their alignment with influential theories of reading. The study was based on transcriptions of six tape-recorded teacher interviews and classroom observations. The method for analyzing the material was a discourse analysis based on Rosalind Ivanic’s (2004) six writing discourses that were adapted to the context of reading comprehension. The results show that teachers in both schools tended to utilise several modes of discourse at the same time. There was overall a significant difference between the discourse styles that were used when the teachers were defining the purpose of reading comprehension and the styles used when the teachers were assessing reading comprehension. The teachers mainly used a creativity discourse and a social-practice discourse when explaining the purpose of reading comprehension. In describing assessment of reading comprehension however a skills discourse was more prominent among the teachers. Hence a discrepancy could be seen between how the teachers view the purpose of reading comprehension and how they assess it.