Reading Comprehension

In this blog post, we’ll dive into the techniques to improving reading comprehension.

Firstly, what is reading comprehension?

Reading comprehension is the ability to read text, process it and understand its meaning. Comprehension helps children build vocabulary, learn about the world, and understand complex concepts.

Strategies to Improve Reading Comprehension

1. Read aloud to your child 

There are lots of benefits to you reading aloud to your children. You can be a role model and help nurture their love of being a reader. Listening to the words said aloud can also help children make connections between the words on the page and the words we say.

You can also have them read aloud. This encourages them to go slower, which gives them more time to process what they read and in turn improves reading comprehension.

2. Talk about what they're reading. 

Ask questions before, during, and after reading to encourage reading comprehension. This is "verbal processing" and helps them remember and think through the themes of the book. Below are a few questions you could ask during story time:

• Before: "What are you interested in about this book? What do you think it will be about?" 

• During: "What's going on in the book? Is it turning out the way you thought it would? What do you think will happen next?" 

• After:  ‘‘What did you like about it? What other books does it remind you of?"

3. Find books they’ll like

Sometimes, low reading comprehension comes down to the fact that a child just isn’t interested in what he or she is reading. In fact. The secret to becoming a better reader is practice—something that is much easier when your child actually likes what he or she is reading.

4. Use a ruler or finger to follow along

If your child has trouble keeping his or her place while reading, use a ruler or finger to make following along easier. This trick can also help students who have dyslexia and struggle with separating lines of text and sentences while reading.

Additionally, children with dyslexia may benefit from tinted overlays when reading as it reduces the contrast of black and white text or bright backgrounds.

5. Use different formats

Some students just aren’t natural readers, they learn better when they see, hear, or write things. If your child struggles with reading, find a format that works better and incorporate that into reading sessions. This could include writing down the main points as they read or visualising the material by drawing what your child is reading (for older students, this could be a mind map).

Reading Books and Practice:

Twinkl is an amazing resource for parents who want to practice reading comprehension at home. HERE you can access Twinkl’s reading corner which has a wide range of books to suit your child’s age and interests.