Posted by Sarah Rutzler on February 02, 2020
Although many children can read, the act of reading and the act of comprehending what you read are two very different things. Reading requires the fluent parsing and blending various phonetic sounds to create words. Reading Comprehension, on the other hand, involves thinking about the words that were just read and deriving a meaning, for just those words and the text as a whole! In simpler terms, reading comprehension is the ability to read, understand, process, and recall what was just read. Well, without proper comprehension skills, students lack the ability to understand what they read. The point of reading isn't to make sounds in your brain or out loud, but rather, to understandimportant lessons, stories and arguments. Through the act of writing, our ancestors have recorded important knowledge that we can understand simply by reading. By understanding what we read, we pick up important information, understand scientific theories, past opinions and new frontiers. (In layman's terms, it is through reading that we no longer have to 'discover' gravity, or the independence of 182 nations with every new generation). Having excellent reading comprehension skills is crucial. It increases the enjoyment and effectiveness of reading and helps not only academically, but professionally, and in a person's personal life. Imagine, for example, that your boss gives you a complicated document: you can read the words, but you cannot understand what the document is telling you. What then, is the point of being able to 'read,' if it can't help you move forward? Many parents make the mistake of assuming Reading Comprehension only influences English / Language Arts. However, comprehension is crucial for basic survival in the education system. Through passages and word problems, the requirement to comprehend what you read is omnipresent in every student's life, from Math Class to History. Science: Children read and learn about many scientific related topics throughout K-12. Proper reading comprehension will have them read and understand facts about animals, plants, the Solar System, the scientific method, and many more. Math: Children are given word problems a lot in mathematics. Without reading comprehension skills, children will struggle determining what is actually being asked and said. History: Children are taught about many significant leaders and events throughout history like Abraham Lincoln, The Constitution, and the American Civil War. In order for children to succeed at reading about history, they must understand what is being said. Reading Comprehension will help them understand and process the information in the text. Overwhelmed by the far-reaching implications of Reading Comprehension? Don't be! Comprehension is actually quite simple to build. However, it will require daily, active involvement from a parent or guardian, where you guide your child through the thought processes that underly understanding any text. Before Starting During As you progress through the story, make sure that your child is holding on to the story by asking "What has happened so far?" Also, clear their doubts and give them a voice in your daily reading practice by asking Remember, building Reading Comprehension will take time. Comprehension is built on phonetic awareness, reading fluency, vocabulary, and / or language arts. Stick to your daily reading practice (especially when you want to give up) and remind your child that it is important to understand every single word / sentence / paragraph / story they read. Over time, as you lovingly help them to see the importance of comrehension., and pour through endless stories together, you'll see your child learn the steps it takes to understand what they read -- slowly, and then all at once :) Genie Academy offers a range of after-school programs focused on enhancing skills in mathematics, literacy, composition, and coding. These educational services are available at various sites across New Jersey, such as Plainsboro, and are designed to cater to the learning needs of children from Pre-Kindergarten to 8th grade. References: Montgomery, Courtney. "How to Improve Reading Comprehension: 8 Expert Tips." How to Improve Reading Comprehension: 8 Expert Tips. PrepScholar, 25 June 2016. Web. 10 Oct. 2017. Osewalt, Ginny. "6 Tips for Helping Your Child Improve Reading Comprehension." Understood.org. Web. 10 Oct. 2017. Reading Comprehension > 'Reading'
Reading Comprehension is Everywhere
Building Reading Comprehension
(Seriously, we can't emphasize this enough. The research out there is endless -- every childrequires daily reading at home to succeed).
-Look at the Cover & Title! What do you think this book will be about?
-Do you know anything about this topic?
-What types of characters do you think will be in the story?
Stop periodically (every paragraph or page) and ask:
-"Who?"
-"Where?"
At key points, you can also ask "How did it happen?" and "Why did it happen?"
Check to see if your child understood the text by asking
-“What was the main message in the story/text?”
-“Tell me the story in your own words”
“What were the most important events in the story?”
“What does the author want you to think about?”
“Why do you think the character did ______?”
“What do you think will happen next?”
“If the story had a sequel, what do you think it would be about?”
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