Identifying the words on the page is only one part of effective reading skills. An ability to understand what is read is an essential component of a strong reader. According to Reading Rockets, comprehension requires a child to decode the words on the page, making connections to what they already know and thinking about the text. Several strategies help a child improve his reading comprehension, both at home and at school.
Visualize
Visualizing the story as it is read helps a child better comprehend the action. Practice visualization with your child by reading her a story. Encourage her to picture the action that takes place in the story mentally. Drawing a picture of the action in the story helps her put that visualization into a concrete representation of the story. Ask her to explain the picture so you can see how closely it reflects the story. This helps you check for understanding.
Stop to Check for Understanding
A child who struggles with comprehension may read an entire story or passage and then realize he does not remember or understand anything that happened. Frequent pauses in the reading help break down the passage into more manageable chunks of text. The breaks give your child a chance to think about what just happened in the small section of the story. Read with your child to teach him to stop periodically. Ask him to explain what happened in the story each time you pause. If he doesn't seem to understand, reread the section with him. Give your child a chance to practice this technique while he reads.
Ask Questions and Predict
Questioning helps a child go beyond the words on the page for a deeper understanding of what she reads. Reading to Kids recommends avoiding questions with a yes or no answer, instead digging deeper with questions about the characters, action, setting and meaning of the story. Ask your child questions when reading together for enjoyment.
Prediction is a similar skill you can use while reading together. The child uses clues from the text you have already read to create a prediction about the rest of the story. Stop reading after a few pages to ask your child what she thinks will happen next. She must think about what has happened so far and apply it to her prediction.
Relate to Real Life
A connection to real life experiences helps a child better comprehend a story. Reading to Kids recommends reminding children of past events that relate to the story. The site also suggests talking about people they know who share similar traits with characters in the story. These references may help your child better relate to the story for a better understanding.
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