Teaching Reading Comprehension

Learn powerful techniques that you can use when you're teaching reading comprehension.

Reading Comprehension Worksheets

Strategies To Improve Reading Comprehension

More Strategies To Improve Reading Comprehension

Talking is a powerful reading comprehension strategy.

It allows students to make sense of what is happening in the text in terms of what they already know.

Try these three methods to get your students talking about the text they are exploring.

1) Whole Class Discussion

Put some discussion questions on the board. For example, If things were so bad for Cinderella, why didn't she just leave home or what might of happened if the Prince didn't find the slipper? The aim is to get the students talking and thinking about the text. This will work best if the teacher steps out of the picture and allows the conversation to flow naturally. The teacher can redirect if the conversation gets off focus, or ask another question if the discussion stops or remind students what good conversation skills are if people start interrupting each other or not listening.

2) Small Group Discussions

Give small groups of students questions to consider or reports to complete. Look for activities that will require student conversation to be completed. This works well if each group shares their finished product with the whole class.

3) One on One

Ask students to compose a number of interview questions about the text (you could put some suggestions on the board - What was your favorite part of the story? What would you like to change in the story?). They then use the questions to interview another student. This is a wonderful way explore how people can experience the same text differently.

Comparing is a powerful reading comprehension tool.

It allows students to make sense of what is happening in the text by comparing it with what they already know.

Try these three methods to get your students comparing a text.

1). Compare the text to another text Students compare the key elements of the text the class is exploring to another text. Comparing "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" with " The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" would provide ample opportunity for class discussion and reflection (characters, setting, main ideas, stereotypes, language, imagery, mood, and paragraph and chapter size).

2). Compare the text to personal experience Students compare the text to their personal experiences. What characters reminded you of someone you know? How is the main character like your best friend? How is the main character different from your best friend? How is the main character's home (or bedroom) like yours? How is the main character's home (or bedroom) different from yours? How would you have reacted when..........? What would you have done when..........? What would your parents have said about.......?

3).Compare the text to the world Students compare elements of the text with the wider world. This can be done by exploring aspects of the world that are elements of the text. If the setting of a text is a fantasy beach, student's research on the environment of real beaches would help them make a detailed comparison. Similarly, if a text is set in a past era, student's research on elements of that period of time would help them make a detailed comparison with the present.

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