Parent Info Page

Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension is the ability to understand, relate to, and learn from what one reads. Reading comprehension strategies that you can encourage your child to use before he or she reads are:

 Preview the book. Look at the cover, the back of the book, the author blurb, the table of contents, and other book features to predict what might happen in the book.

 When reading non-fiction, think about and discuss what you know about the topic.

 Make sure the book is an appropriate selection that matches your reading strategies and interest. Read the first page or two and ask yourself if you are able to understand the story so far.

Reading comprehension strategies you can use to encourage your child to use during reading are:

 Read back. When you begin to read, reread the page or two that you finished reading yesterday.

 Go back and reread a sentence that you don’t understand.

 Stop and talk about parts that make you angry, surprise you, remind you of something that has happened to you, or remind you of another book.

 Think back/think ahead. Stop and think back for a minute about what you have read then look for clues that tell you what may happen next and think ahead to make a prediction.

 Imagine a story taking place as if it were a movie. Imagine the characters features. Picture the plot in time and space.

Reading comprehension strategies you can use to encourage your child to use after reading are:

 Summarize what you have just read. Include important information (who, what, when, where, why and how). Think about the beginning, middle and end as you retell this part of the story.

 Ask yourself: Who are the characters? What is the setting of the story? What is the problem? What is the solution?

 Draw or write about your favorite part.

 Write a letter to the author or to a character in the book.

 Give a book review. Tell what you liked or disliked about the book.

 Ask yourself: What’s the author’s purpose? Think about why the author wrote the book or article.

Reading Fluency

Fluency is defined as the ability to read with speed, accuracy and proper expression. When reading aloud, fluent readers read in phrases and add intonation appropriately. Their reading is smooth and has expression. In order to understand what they read, children must be able to read fluently whether they are reading aloud or silently.

Here are some clues for parents that a child may have problems with fluency:

 He or she knows how to read words but seems to take a long time to read a short book or passage silently.

 He or she reads a book with no expression.

 He or she stumbles a lot and loses his/her place when reading something aloud.

 He or she reads very slowly.

 He or she moves his/her mouth when reading silently (subvocalizing).

What to do at home…..

 Support and encourage your child. Realize that he or she is likely frustrated by reading.

 Check with your child’s teacher to find out their assessment of your child’s word decoding skills.

 If your child can decode words well, help him or her build speed and accuracy by:

o Reading aloud and have your child match his/her voice to yours.

o Having your child practice reading the same list of words, phrases, or short passages several times.

o Remind your child to pause between sentences and phrases.

 Read aloud to your child to provide an example of how fluent reading sounds.

 Give your child books with predictable vocabulary and clear rhythmic patterns so the child can “hear” the sound of fluent reading as he or she reads the book aloud.

 Use books on tapes; have your child follow along in the printed copy.