Reading Comprehension Strategies
Posted on | March 11, 2009 | No Comments
There are many different strategies for improving reading comprehension, but not every one of them works for all kids. The problem is that different reading comprehension strategies have different strengths and different weaknesses. Nowadays, there is a big move towards whole language. This is a reading comprehension strategy that emphasizes a holistic approach to reading. Children are supposed to learn how to read by actually doing it. Rather than going through a series of methodical steps involving sounding out words and blurring syllables together, they try to pick up the whole thing as one.
Unfortunately, this has become one of the most problematic reading comprehension strategies for certain students. Although many students do very well with the whole language approach, others need a solid phonics foundation. When they are restricted to whole language, they are unable to succeed at learning how to read. This is particularly true of dyslexic students. Many of them have a much harder time learning how to read and need things broken down into fundamental chunks before they can get it.
This is why phonics is one of the most preferred reading comprehension strategies. Even in school districts that focus on whole language, Some degree of phonics reading is usually added to balance things out. Learning what the different sounds mean never hurts a student, and for many students it is absolutely essential.
Of course, reading comprehension strategies are not limited to phonics versus whole language. There are many other aspects to the fascinating world of language acquisition. for example, it is absolutely essential that students learn to interact with what they are reading. Enjoying what they are reading is important, and it makes them learn more effectively. Student should be encouraged to invent their own stories or to explore the characters in independent writing assignments. This will make them think more about the stories they are reading, and the more they think about them the more quickly their language skills will improve.
One of my favorite reading comprehension strategies is to have children prepare a final project on every book they read. It doesn’t always have to be the same thing. Book reports are a pretty classic approach, but they are not the only one. A diorama is a great way of sharing the love of the book with other students ? particularly for younger kids. Not all kids are verbal after all. Kids who are visual should be encouraged to develop their talents as much as anyone else.
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