Early Literacy: Comprehension

01When talking about literacy, comprehension means understanding what we read.

02On the website Reading Rockets, literacy experts say, To be able to accurately understand written material, children need to be able to 1.

03Decode what they read.

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05Make connections between what they read and what they already know.

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07Think deeply about what they have read.

08Strategies for Comprehension Ways of teaching are sometimes called strategies.

09Comprehension strategies should do some of the following.

10Teach students what they understand and what they do not.

11Teach the structure of a story, beginning, middle, and end.

12Teach students to retell a story or parts of a story.

13Teach students to ask questions about a text.

14Use visual organizers, such as word walls and story maps.

15Experts at Reading Rockets say, Teachers can show students the following skills.

16How to guess what is going to happen in a story.

17How to retell a story in their own words.

18How to use new lesson words often and in different ways.

19How to ask themselves questions about a text as they read.

20These experts also suggest ways students can help themselves.

21A child can use visual aids, such as outlines and maps.

22They can read with a friend and take turns summarizing.

23As they read, they can ask themselves questions about it.

24They can make mental pictures of the story.

25This strategy is called visualization or a mind movie.

26Parents can talk about words, stories, and books with their children.

27Parents can also make connections between a child's experiences and what they read in a book.

28Strategy Story Maps A visual aid Story Maps allow students to learn the story in a visual way.

29Students must read carefully to fill in the map.

30Story Maps Story Maps also may be used for math, social studies, and science.

31There are different types of story maps.

32The most basic ones focus on the beginning, the middle, and the end of the story.

33More advanced story maps are about other story elements, such as characters, setting, problem, solution.

34Strategy Active Reading As you read a book to a child, talk about the story.

35This strategy turns a book into a lively conversation.

36Do not stop too much.

37If you do, the students may not understand the story.

38Keep it fun.

39Ask questions about the story.

40Ask questions about the story.

41This will help the child get more involved in the story.

42For early learners, ask easy questions.

43You can point to a picture in the book and ask, What is this?

44For more advanced learners, you can ask more difficult questions.

45For example, What does this character want?

46When a student answers, give them feedback.

47That's right.

48The character is sad because he is lost.

49Add to what the student said.

50I was lost one time, and I felt really scared.

51Strategy Sequence Putting events in the correct order, or sequence, is a great way to understand a story.

52Why teach sequencing?

53It helps students of all levels to organize information.

54With beginning learners, you can use pictures, too.

55It teaches the structure of a story, beginning, middle, and end.

56This strategy also tests a student's ability to retell a story in order, or to summarize it.

57This strategy can be used with many kinds of writing.

58Students can sequence parts of a story, or lines from a song or a poem.

59They can even sequence everyday activities, a math problem, or a recipe, for making their favorite dish.

60Simply write or draw the text of a story, or steps in a process.

61Then have students put the steps in order.

62Assessment for Comprehension There are many types of reading comprehension assessments.

63Generally speaking, if a learner cannot do the following, they may have a problem with comprehension.

64They cannot tell you the main idea.

65They cannot describe the characters or setting.

66They cannot explain a character's thoughts or feelings.

67They cannot connect a story to real life.

68They can tell you what happened in a story, but not why.

69They cannot retell the story in their own words.

70They cannot tell the events of the story in order.

71Apart from testing and assessment, experts suggest that teachers, parents, and caregivers should pay attention to the skills of describing, explaining, and connecting while reading with a child.

72Experts add that adults should pay attention to what a child says.

73Comprehension may be a problem if a child says, I couldn't follow the story.

74Or simply, I don't get it.

75Use these tips, strategies, and assessment methods that best serve you and your learners.

76Change them to fit your students and teaching situation.

77I'm Ana Mateo.

78And I'm Katie Weaver.