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WHAT IS COMPREHENSION?
Comprehension refers to understanding what is read. If a child can read a passage, they are demonstrating fluency. When they can discuss what is read, they are demonstrating comprehension. But, comprehension is so much more than being able to retell a story. Comprehension encompasses vocabulary knowledge, author's purpose, text organization, and summarizing. When students can demonstrate these skills, they are showing their understanding of a text.
WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF COMPREHENSION?
Understand the words in the passage and what they mean in that context
Understand the purpose of the text-is it to entertain? teach? describe?
Identify the main idea and components (Fiction: characters, setting, events-BME) (Non-Fiction: main idea, details)
Answer questions and discuss the content following reading
Make predictions, inferences, and connections with the material
Activities to Improve Comprehension
1.) Students can improve their fluency by answering questions after reading. When a reader can respond to a question, they are demonstrating understanding of the content and an ability to apply that knowledge.
Here are some questions you can ask your child: (Fiction Texts)
Questions to Boost Comprehension
Pre-Reading:
What do you think the book is going to be about?
What kind of characters do you think will be in the book?
Do you have a prediction? Why do you think that?
During Reading:
What is happening?
What do you think is going to happen next?
What is the setting (place and time)?
Who are the characters? Can you describe them?
After Reading:
What was your favorite part? Why?
Which character did you like the best? Why?
How did the characters solve the problem?
Would you have ended the book differently?
What was the most interesting thing you learned?
What happened first? Next? Last?
2.) Graphic Organizers can be a great tool to help improve comprehension. After reading, students can complete an organizer filling in information about characters, plot, definitions, theme, problem/solution, and more. This will also help strengthen writing skills.
Check out some free graphic organizers here
and here:
and here:
Someone Then Summary Organizer
Scholastic Graphic Organizers -KWL Chart, Webs, Timelines, Comprehension Quilt, and more!
3.) Check out these online resources with lots of ideas to boost comprehension!
4.) Here are some more ideas for comprehension activities. Be creative and have fun with it!
Comprehension Activities
Comprehension Activities
Read a story and:
retell the story while building a scene with blocks https://theeducatorsspinonit.com/lego-inspired-story-retelling-of-very/ , stuffed animals, puppets, etc
use the five finger retell strategy (see image below)
draw/write the important events in order
make a Reading Retell Bracelet (see image below)
retell by writing 1. characters 2. setting, 3. problem 4. solution, 5. connection on a balloon. After reading, toss the balloon back and forth, answering the question that is facing you on the balloon.
MODIFICATION: You could also include Events: Beginning, Middle, End, favorite part, favorite character, lesson, etc to help strengthen their understanding of the story.
NON-FICTION MODIFICATION: vocabulary words, big idea of the story/passage (what was it about), what did you learn?, what was a surprise?, what would you like to know more about?, tell 3 facts, what would be a good title for this (other than its original one)?, what was the author's purpose for writing this?, and personal thoughts regarding the topic (connection).
5.) Reading Games are another way to boost comprehension. Below you will find a list of games that all increase literacy skills. Think outside the box-games like Clues or Battleship don't have much reading, but they do practice inferencing, asking questions, and making connections.
5.) Reading Games are another way to boost comprehension. Below you will find a list of games that all increase literacy skills. Think outside the box-games like Clues or Battleship don't have much reading, but they do practice inferencing, asking questions, and making connections.
Games to Improve Vocabulary: Scrabble, Boggle, UpWords, SuperWhy ABC Letter Game, Hedbanz, Apples to Apples (regular or jr.), Sequence Letters, Bananagrams, Last Letter, Zingo, and charades
Games to Improve Comprehension Skills: Clue, Battleship, Monolopy, Life, Tall Tales, Read my List, MadLibs, Rory's Story Cubes, FitZit, In a Pickle, Dixit, and Tales and Games
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