If you are like most parents today, running around between school, extra-murals, homework and work, you will probably not have the time and energy to spend more time on yet another new skill that your child has to master. But, if there is one skill that will help your child far more than another half an hour of sport or music lessons, it is the art of reading comprehensively.
Reading comprehension is a skill that will ultimately benefit your child far more than just in the English class. In fact, children with weak reading comprehension skills suffer in all subjects at school, even Mathematics.
Imagine your future employed child being handed a document of ten pages with the
instruction from the boss to have a one-page summary ready by the next morning, or given a list of instructions to assemble a complicated piece of machinery? Will they be able to complete these tasks successfully without having mastered the art of comprehending or understanding what they are reading? Sadly, the answer is no.Poor reading comprehension skills have also been linked to crime and poverty:
- Over 60% of inmates in the US prison system have reading skills at or below the fourth-grade level
- 85% of US juveniles in prison are functionally illiterate
- 43% sets of adults with extremely low reading skills live at or below the poverty line
Although these aren’t South African based stats, it clearly shows the influence that poor reading comprehension and literacy could have in any country.
Reading comprehension changes a passive reader into an active reader. Whether you are reading for pleasure or instruction without comprehension, the text remains meaningless.The purpose of all reading is ultimately to derive meaning.
What is an active reader?
An active reader is someone who is able to understand what he or she read, analyse the information and ability to apply the knowledge gained.
Active readers can:
- Predict what will happen next in a story
- Identify character traits of main characters, plot and setting
- Clarify parts of texts that are difficult to understand
- Find the meaning of difficult words by reading it in context
- Create questions on the story
- Apply the knowledge gained in other similar situations
From the above description, it becomes clear how important it is for your child to be an active reader when they write exams.
Choose texts that are suitable
Age-appropriate reading is important to prevent feelings of inadequacy. If a child can connect or relate to the story or article, the understanding of the text will be easier. Start with short texts to keep his or her attention.
Age-appropriate reading is important to prevent feelings of inadequacy. If a child can connect or relate to the story or article, the understanding of the text will be easier. Start with short texts to keep his or her attention.
Read text out loud
By reading out loud more senses are engaged, which improves the chances of comprehension and recollection.
By reading out loud more senses are engaged, which improves the chances of comprehension and recollection.
Retell what was read
When retelling a story, focus on the main ideas and characters. This also helps develop the skill of summarising data.
When retelling a story, focus on the main ideas and characters. This also helps develop the skill of summarising data.
Focus on the sequence of events
Test if your child knows what sequence events happened in the story, using questions that start with: “What happened before…” “What did the main character do after…”
Test if your child knows what sequence events happened in the story, using questions that start with: “What happened before…” “What did the main character do after…”
Enhance vocabulary
Teach the skill of finding the meaning of unknown words by reading the word in context. Use the dictionary for the words he or she really struggles with.
Teach the skill of finding the meaning of unknown words by reading the word in context. Use the dictionary for the words he or she really struggles with.
Question techniques
Ask questions that test the basic understanding of the text. Then progress to questions that will require them to use higher order thinking skills, eg.: “What do you think happened next?” (prediction). “Do you think this character has the same character traits as the main character in our previous story?” (application) “In what way is our house different to the house in the story?” (analyse) “Can you think of a better ending to this story?” (create)
Ask questions that test the basic understanding of the text. Then progress to questions that will require them to use higher order thinking skills, eg.: “What do you think happened next?” (prediction). “Do you think this character has the same character traits as the main character in our previous story?” (application) “In what way is our house different to the house in the story?” (analyse) “Can you think of a better ending to this story?” (create)
You might want to read about creating a productive study environment.
