Comprehension is the essence of reading. That's according to researchers affiliated with the University of Illinois and the National Institute for Literacy, who also note that knowledge of letter-sound relationships goes hand-in-hand with comprehension. For children who have difficulty understanding what they read, learning can be especially challenging. Remedial strategies have historically focused on reading accuracy; however, research indicates that a conversational, integrated approach may be most beneficial.
Step 1
Follow along as your child reads aloud. According to Linda Crowe, Ph.D., whose study appeared In the January 2005 issue of "Remedial and Special Education," successful reading intervention requires active participation with consistent adult monitoring and feedback. Moreover, authors Bonnie Armbruster, Ph.D., Fran Lehr, M.A., and Jean Osborn, M.Ed., note that reading aloud also helps children develop fluency and make connections between spoken and written words.
Step 2
Break the text into chunks. Depending on your child's age, one chunk may be a chapter, paragraph or a few sentences. As noted by educational therapist Regina Richards, M.A., whose article appears on the National Association of School Psychologists' website, children remember and organize information more easily when it's presented in manageable bundles. Focus on one segment at a time, and emphasize smaller or larger chunks as needed.
Step 3
Prepare your child for what comes next. Crowe suggests that children's reading comprehension improves when children are given cues for what they're about to read. Preface the text by indicating who is doing what action, where and when the action occurs or how and why it happens.
Step 4
Explain unfamiliar words. Keep definitions simple, and use your child's own frame of reference as much as possible. As Richards notes, children are better able to comprehend new information when it makes sense based on what they already know or have personally experienced. Helping your child create mental pictures about the passage may also support understanding and long-term retention.
Step 5
Review the content. According to Crowe, summaries help children organize and remember what they read. Provide short statements to highlight the main points of each section, or ask your child to summarize his understanding through guided questioning.
Step 6
Ask your child to predict what might happen next. Discuss your views, and proceed to the next section of text once you and your child have a hypothesis in mind. According to Crowe, comprehension improves when children think about possible outcomes and share their ideas with others.
References
- National Institute for Literacy: A Child Becomes a Reader
- "Remedial & Special Education"; Comparison of Two Oral Reading Feedback Strategies in Improving Reading Comprehension of School-Age Children with Low Reading Ability; Linda K. Crowe; January 2005
- National Association of School Psychologists: Helping Children with Learning Disabilities Understand What They Read
