Teaching Your Child Reading Comprehension

Teaching reading comprehension from the get-go with children learning to read is important.  What is reading comprehension? It’s the ability to read a word and understand the concept behind the word, and to read a sentence and then comprehend the concept the sentence conveys.  

Are you stuck for ideas on how to reinforce reading comprehension as your child moves along in their learning to read journey? Here are a few ideas that can help make teaching reading comprehension a bit simpler.

• Pick books to read on subjects that your child likes. If your child is interested in the subject matter of the book it will facilitate their desire to pay closer attention to what the book is communicating. 
• Read aloud. Hearing the words out loud can give the child a better understanding of what he or she may be reading as opposed to reading the book silently in his/her head.
• If something isn’t clicking for your child, re-read the confusing section. Keep re-reading it with an explanation as necessary until it clicks.
• Using a finger, piece of paper or ruler to follow along with what the child is reading as he or she can help the child firmly grasp the word and its concept, while following along as they read.
• Discuss it! Talk to your child about what they’re reading either as they’re reading or after they’ve completed their reading. Talking it through helps reinforce what has just been read.
• Narrate it. After your child has completed reading a book have him or her narrate back to you in his/her own words what has just been read.
• Draw it out or act it out. Some children need other means of learning incorporated into their learning to read and reading comprehension processes. If your child enjoys drawing or acting - encourage him or her to draw and/or act out what they’ve read to reinforce what they’ve learned in a creative means.
• Find the themes. Help your child identify the main themes of a book to capture the big picture concepts behind the meaning of the book to reinforce comprehension.

These are just a few ideas on helping to teach reading comprehension as you’re teaching your child to read with the Phonics Museum app, too. What are your favorite ways to teach reading comprehension to your child? Visit us on Facebook or email us to share your ideas and thoughts on our wall!