Comprehension
Understanding what you've read is the goal of reading. Richard Allington, professor & author
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Watch Mary Beth Allen, National Trainer for the Bureau of Education & Research, demonstrate the importance of teaching thinking skills to our youngest students in these less-than-two minute videos.
Activities to Support Comprehension Acquisition
Reading is thinking and even though our youngest students may not yet be readers, they are thinkers. Below are some simple thinking strategies you can use with your child to encourage and develop comprehension.
Use What Kids Already Know
(prior knowledge)
Questions to Ask
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What does this (text or picture) remind you of? Why did it remind you of that?
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What do you already know that will help you understand this book?
When To Use This Strategy With Your Child...
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Before reading
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During reading
Strong readers think about what they already know to help them understand what they reading.
I know this already!
Books That Support Comprehension Aquisition
Need more?
Contact your child's teacher for additional information.
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Make Predictions
Questions to Ask
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Read the title and/or look at the pictures or graphics. What do you think this story will be about?
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What do you think is going to happen next?
When To Use This Strategy With Your Child...
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Before reading
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During reading
Strong readers Use cues from titles and pictures to make educated guesses about what the reading will be about.
Visualize
(create mental images)
Questions to Ask
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What picture did you make in your mind while reading just now?
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How did that picture help you understand the story better?
When To Use This Strategy With Your Child...
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During reading
Strong readers Create pictures in their Mind while reading, like watching a movie in your head.
Summarize and Retell
Questions to Ask
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What's happened so far in the story? What are the most important events?
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What was this story about? Help your child grasp the big picture and avoid retelling every single detail.
When To Use This Strategy With Your Child...
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During reading
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After reading
Strong readers can pull out the most important parts of what they are reading and tell others.
What is comprehension?
Why is comprehension important?
Comprehension or understanding is the ultimate goal of reading.
When children are able to comprehend text, they understand what they read, they remember what they read, and they are able to communicate with others about what they read. Source: Voyager U, p.5
