Reading comprehension requires decoding (figuring out which spoken sounds correspond with printed words and letters) and language comprehension (the ability to understand how words fit together in a sentence).
Understanding the science of reading can help us figure out the cognitive processes that are essential for reading, which can in turn inform the most effective practices for teaching reading comprehension. For example, the “decoding” part of reading comprehension can be bolstered by teaching phonological awareness (the ability to manipulate sounds within words), sight recognition of familiar words, and learning letter-sound correspondence (the sounds that written letters can make). The “language comprehension” part of reading can be bolstered by teaching vocabulary, language structures, reasoning skills, and more.