Comprehension

Comprehension is the ability to understand what you read. If readers can read the words, but do not understand what they are reading, they are not really reading.

Research shows:

  • Comprehension is a complex cognitive process in which vocabulary plays an important part.

  • Children who are good at monitoring their comprehension know when they understand what they read and when they do not. They have strategies to fix problems in their understanding as problems arise.

Comprehension Questions to Practice at Home

Practice one or two questions from each section with your child.

Before your child reads a new books, ask:

  • What does the title/cover/back of the book tell you about the book?

  • What are you curious to find out/learn about in this book?

  • Why did you choose this book?

  • What do you think is going to happen? Take a "picture walk"

  • Does this book remind you of anything you've already read or seen?

  • What makes you think this book is going to be interesting?

While your child is reading a book, try asking:

  • What do you think will happen next?

  • Talk about words your child may be unfamiliar with.

  • What is the problem in this book? What do you think the character will do next?

  • When you read this part, what were you picturing in your head?

  • If you were that character, what would you have done differently in that situation?

  • Can you summarize this chapter or part in your own words?

  • What text features are in this book that helped you understand the text? Captions, graphs, headings, glossary, etc.

After your child has finished a book, ask questions like:

  • What was your favorite part of the book? Why?

  • What does this book remind you of?

  • What do you think the author is trying to tell you in this story? Is there a lesson we can learn from this story?

  • What do you think was the most important thing that happened in this story, and why do you think it was important?

  • How was the problem/situation solved?

  • Retell the story and include the characters names and important details from the story in order.

  • What are some interesting facts you learned in this book?

  • Describe how a character changed throughout the book.