Reading comprehension is one of the most important skills any child will learn in school. When they read a book or story, the ability to understand what happened, to whom and break down the contributing factors to the end of the story will be applied throughout their lives. Think test questions, college and job applications, legal documents… the list goes on. Often times the lack of understanding of a question or phrase in a document leads to incorrect or undesirable answers, and failure to obtain a goal. Being college and career ready means a high-level of reading comprehension.
Is your child just beginning to read? Then now is the time to be sure that they’re not just reading the words, but comprehending the story that is unfolding before them. Even a toddler book can be analyzed to some degree based on the pictures and story line. So, how do you help to ensure that your child understands all of what they read?
Talk It Out
We’ve already talked about the importance of reading every day to your child, but now it’s time to take that effort to the next level. While you read, take the time to note expressions of the characters (if there are pictures) and ask your child what they think the character is feeling. Let them know that the characters feelings are a part of the story, along with the place it happens (the setting.)
As you read, ask questions. Does the little boy look happy or sad? Why is he sad? Is the little boy at the park or on a dark, gloomy path? Questions like these make the story more “real” to your child and also help them to understand what’s happening. This is the beginning of reading comprehension.
You can make a game out of understanding the book: if you child gets most of the questions right while you read the first book, then they get to read a second with you. Making reading the reward gives you some more quality time with your little one and will help build a love of reading for them.
Online Resource
There is a great resource online with a wide-range of reading comprehension tools: Reading Rockets. At
http://www.readingrockets.org, parents have a large set of tools at their disposal for free, from teaching reading guides to blogs and classroom strategies that can help any level reader increase their comprehensions and reading skills.
Make everyday reading and comprehension a part of your child’s life and see how far it can take them.
Posted By: Paul Adams
Thursday, April 8th 2010 at 1:02PM
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