Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension is the ability to understand written text.  It’s the ultimate goal of the reading process. The reader must be able to accurately read the words in the text with an appropriate rate to ensure that comprehension is not hindered by inaccurate, labored reading.  Your child’s teacher can help you select books that are at an appropriate level for your child’s current reading abilities.

A reader also needs to use a variety of comprehension techniques to gain the most understanding from the text.  The following are suggestions that a parent can do at home to help his or her child increase comprehension during story reading.

• Questioning: Before, during, and after a reading session, discuss with your child what he or she is reading about.  Here are examples of questions you might ask your child while reading a story.
  • Prior to reading:
    • “Based on the cover illustration and title, what do you think this story could be about?”
    • “Who do you think the characters might be in this story?”
  • During reading:
    • “What has happened in the story so far?”
    • “Who are the characters in the story?”
    • “What is the story’s setting?”  “Where does this story take place?”  
    • “What problem in the story needs to be solved?”
    • “What do you think will happen next?”
    • “Do you have any questions about the story at this point?
    • After the reading:
    • “What was the main idea of this story?”
    • “How was the problem in the story resolved?”
    • “Who was your favorite character?  Why?”
    • “What were important events that happened in the story?”
• Inference: Making an inference requires a student to “read between the lines”.  The questions asked do not have answers found directly in the text. Instead, the reader has to consider what he or she has read in the text along with using background knowledge to answer an inferential question.  An example of an inferential question is: “Why do you think the girl was walking her bike home?”
• Vocabulary: Help your child understand the meaning of unknown words in the text by using context clues and analyzing meaningful word parts.  If necessary, use sources like a dictionary to help the student find the meaning. 
• Visualization: Encourage your child to visual the events happening in the story.
• Retelling and Summarizing: At the conclusion of reading a story, have your child retell the story to help him or her recall key parts of the story.  Key parts might include the story setting, characters, sequence of events, and the problems/solutions. Summarizing the story means telling the most important parts of the story condensed into a few sentences.  
• Monitoring or clarifying: During and after the reading, ask your child if he or she has any questions or is confused by anything read in the text.  Additionally, discuss with your child any new information he or she has learned.

Use these strategies when reading with your child to increase understanding.  It is valuable for students of all ages to read aloud to an adult and get feedback about their reading.  Don't underestimate the value of reading complex text to children as well.  Reading only material that is "on their level" doesn't allow them to stretch and grow.  Harder material can be a successful learning experience (when supported) to expose children to a greater vocabulary and increase their comprehension skills.

Provide many opportunities for your child to read a variety of different genres.  Children enjoy reading informational texts as well as stories.