Beyond the Basics: Reading Comprehension

You and your child have begun the adventure of learning to read, and things are starting to get exciting! Your child has a good grasp of phonics and has learned basic decoding skills. You are thrilled that you can now focus on other tasks while he or she reads independently.

But basic skills are only the doorway into the world of reading. How can you make sure your child is really comprehending what he or she reads? Here are a few ways to take your child beyond the basics of reading toward the real goal—understanding and enjoyment!

Build background knowledge.

Studies have shown that the more background knowledge readers bring to a text, the better they will comprehend it. How can we provide a content-rich environment to help our children build knowledge? Take a look at some of the strategies below.

Look ahead at your child’s upcoming reading assignments. What are some of the big topics? If a historical fiction story about pioneers is coming up, visit the local library. Check out books on the midwestern plains, covered wagons, sod houses, and early tools. Look at the books with your child. Talk about how the pioneers cooked, did laundry, built homes, and cared for their horses. Books are one of the best places to build knowledge. Your interest in books will help develop your child’s interest as well.

But knowledge isn’t limited to books. Videos and documentaries are another great source of background knowledge. For example, your child might read an informational text on the ocean. Beforehand, find a good documentary to watch on undersea animals and plants. Take notes while you watch and afterwards discuss what you learned. Surrounding young readers with digital media is another way to prepare them to understand various subjects.

Give your child experiences that will help expand his or her knowledge. Before reading about the stars in science, use an app to identify constellations after dark. Before reading about the plant kingdom, visit your local garden center. Observe the variety of flowers, bushes, and trees, and take notes. Is the war in Iraq coming up in history class? Let your child talk to a veteran who can share some of his firsthand experiences. Remember that trips to zoos, museums, and cultural events are not just fun outings. They broaden the sphere of knowledge that will inform your child’s reading.

Use knowledge strategically.

After building background knowledge in your young reader, be sure to use that knowledge when you approach a new text together. One of the best strategies for activating background knowledge is a KWL chart.

1. Create a simple three-column chart.
2. Label the columns K, W, and L.
3. Before reading: In the K column, have your child list things he already knows about the topic of the text. In the W column, have him list things he wants to know. What questions does he still have about the topic? Questions are a great motivator for reading.
4. After reading: Have your child complete the L column with the new things he has learned. Now he has even more knowledge stored away!

Help your child notice text structures.

Recognizing the organizational structure ahead of time provides a framework for reading comprehension. If readers have a basic road map to follow as they approach a text, they will know what to look for as they read.

Texts use many different methods of organization. Most stories fit into a problem/solution structure. Some informational texts might have a simple main idea/supporting details structure. Others might compare and contrast two subjects. Many texts about history have a cause/effect structure. A procedural text has a sequence of steps to follow.

Try using graphic organizers to record observations about structure. Use a T-chart or a Venn diagram to record similarities and differences between two things. Record a sequence of steps with a flow chart. Place events in order on a timeline. Check out a few other organizational strategies in this homeschool blog post.

Many graphic organizer templates are available online. Research and download an organizer that supports the structure of the assigned text. Before reading, show your child the graphic organizer and talk about the structure. After reading, have your child complete the organizer to check comprehension.

Encourage responses.

When your child finishes reading a story or an article, ask for a retelling or a summary. A retelling is a detailed account of the text in the reader’s own words. A summary is a little more advanced. The reader must choose the most important details. Then, the reader gives the gist of the text without telling it in its entirety. Summaries can be either written or oral. Your child’s ability to summarize will give you an excellent assessment of his or her reading comprehension.

Another type of response is an opinion. Ask your child to write one or two sentences sharing personal thoughts about the story. An opinion response is also a good way to have your child evaluate the worldview of the text. Does the worldview agree with the Bible? Is there anything in the text that doesn’t line up with God’s Word?

Make vocabulary acquisition interactive and fun.

Vocabulary development is another important key to understanding what we read. Using engaging strategies for vocabulary acquisition encourages a love of learning new words.

Work together with your child to craft simple definitions for vocabulary words. Keeping a journal is a great way to record these definitions. Include synonyms, antonyms, and drawings to aid with memory.

Encourage your child with fun vocabulary exercises and games. Play guessing games with the words, or invite your child to connect two words in a sentence.

For a reward-based system, start a vocab jar. If your child uses a vocabulary word in daily conversation, let him add a marble to the jar. When the jar is full, enjoy a special treat together!

Teach your child to be a detective by looking at word parts. Prefixes, suffixes, and roots can all be clues to a word’s meaning. Many words, such as bear, nail, and watch, have multiple meanings. Keep lists of these double-duty words. Help your child study the context to determine which meaning is being used.

Practice the skills.

Be intentional about helping your child gain skills that increase reading comprehension. Texts in every genre offer opportunities to practice reading skills.

Read poems.

As you practice, don’t overlook poetry. Poetry provides a treasure trove of opportunities to practice reading comprehension.

The compressed language of poetry requires readers to make inferences. Interpreting a poem’s figurative language helps to develop critical thinking. The sound devices and rhyme used in poetry can help to solidify your child’s phonics skills.

Poetry is also shorter than most texts and uses a lot of white space. These features can make poems less intimidating for struggling readers. For more tips to help struggling readers, check out this homeschool blog post.

Be patient and encouraging.

Remember that reading comprehension is a skill developed gradually. Your child’s understanding will grow and deepen over time. Be patient, even if the pace seems slow. Offer lots of encouragement! Enjoy this adventure God has called you to go on together.