Comprehension
The comprehension overview explains comprehension.
Comprehension is the reason for reading. If readers can read the words but do not understand or connect to what they are reading, they are not really reading. Good readers are both purposeful and active, and have the skills to absorb what they read, analyze it, make sense of it, and make it their own.
Strong readers think actively as they read. They use their experiences and knowledge of the world, vocabulary, language structure, and reading strategies to make sense of the text and know how to get the most out of it. They know when they have problems with understanding and what thinking strategies to use to resolve these problems when they pop up.
Comprehension Basics
What are the levels of understanding?
There are three levels of understanding: literal, inferential, and propositional.
Literal comprehension is the basic understanding of the text, often answered by questions such as who, what, when, and where.
Inferential comprehension requires the reader to link ideas within the text that are not explicitly stated. Inferential questions often answer why or how. Inferential level of understanding also considers the author's purpose, word choice, and mood of the text.
Propositional comprehension use the literal and inferential knowledge of the text and connects it to other sources, whether background knowledge or information from another text. When new information is presented, the readers may be prompted to change their thinking or actions in response to the text. It asks of the reader to consider what's next
What Does Mastery Look Like?
Mastery of Comprehension
Since comprehension is the goal of reading and comprehension requires both proficient decoding and proficient language, achieving mastery must first secure skills in these two areas. Hollis Scarborough’s Rope Model illustrates clearly the subskills of word recognition:
phonological awareness
decoding
sight recognition
The subskills of language comprehension are:
background knowledge
vocabulary
language structures
verbal reasoning
literacy knowledge
When a student has achieved a level of proficiency in these areas, they will be able to comprehend complex text at or above grade level independently (Scarborough, 2001).
readinguniverse | Levels of Understanding. (2018). Reading Universe. Retrieved 10 December 2018, from https://www.readinguniverse.org/copy-of-comprehension-1
Teaching Resources
Reciprocal Teaching
Comprehension Videos
Professional Learning Opportunity
This is an free online course that teachers can access to learn more about teaching comprehension.
What tasks should students be able to demonstrate to indicate mastery of this skill?
Ability to answer who, what, when, where, why, and how
Ability to link ideas within text
Ability to formulate new or changed ideas about a subject
Ability to create and describe a mental image of what is read
Why is understanding the levels of understanding important to reading?
Books were written to change the reader on some level. Thinking about texts at various levels deepens the understanding of the text and aids in the reader understanding and growing from what they have read.