Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension is a product of skill

Think back to the Simple View of Reading.  Its premise is that reading comprehension is the product of two skills: word recognition and language comprehension.  In order to have reading comprehension, a student must be able to "lift the words from the page" and understand what they mean, not only as individual words but as a whole message.  

If a student has adequate word reading ability but struggles with comprehension, we can identify that student as a poor comprehender. The question then arises... what do we do when a student struggles to comprehend?

Use the resources below to learn more about the role of background knowledge in reading comprehension and the use of reading comprehension strategies.  Then, click the buttons below to be taken to our Background Knowledge and Comprehension Instruction pages for specific instructional recommendations and strategies to use in your classroom.

Comprehension Resources from LETRS:

Comprehension Planning Checklist

Before Reading Comprehension Planner