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Teaching your child to read is a complex process that takes time. Check out the first steps in the process to get started.
At this point, your child is able to read and now you want to make sure they are truly understanding the words they read. Reading comprehension is a critical skill that children need to learn to be successful, especially as they get to later grades that include more complex content and reading.
If you are looking for more in-depth reading on how to teach reading using the science of reading, I would recommend The Science of Reading in Action. I read this book in addition to various websites linked throughout my posts, and I found the book to be extremely helpful. The author also offers other resources beyond the book. While it is focused on classroom learning, it can be applied to teaching your child at home too.
What is Reading Comprehension?
Essentially reading comprehension is the ability to understand written language. It requires orthographic processing, which is the ability to translate the written word to the spoken language we hear in our heads.
There are four brain processes in reading comprehension:
Phonological Processing
Meaning Processing
Context Processing
Orthographic Processing
Reading comprehension requires students to draw on background knowledge, make inferences, self-monitor their reading comprehension, form mental images, and summarize and retell
How do we help our children build reading comprehension?
Reading comprehension is a skill that takes time to build. It is also a skill that you can absolutely help your child with at home. There are a number of different strategies that can be used to help increase reading comprehension. I have included five that can easily be done at home.
Request Your Child Summarize
Have your child summarize what they read in their own words.
Ask Questions
Asking questions is an easy way to help your child develop reading comprehension skills. Use open-ended questions. Be sure to ask questions that are found right there in the text, that require them to think and read between the lines (such as making inferences and drawing conclusions), and questions that relate to their reading but provide an opportunity to consider it in a new context.
Make Connections
When you are talking with your child about what they read, help them make connections to their own lives and/or interests.
Use Graphic Organizers
There are a wide variety of graphic organizers and different organizers work for different types of text (and for different children). Often having a visual representation of information such as relationships and ideas presented in the text can help people understand it more clearly. It also gives children a chance to process the information. You don't need anything special either, you can make your own using paper and pen or do a mind map.
Think - aloud
Thinking aloud is a great way to model reading comprehension for your child. A think-aloud is exactly what it sounds like, you are saying your thoughts, decisions, predictions about the text, inferences about the text, etc. out loud as you read to or with your child. This shows them how a fluent reader comprehends a text.
Conclusion
Reading comprehension is the final step in teaching children to read. It is complex and requires patience. There are a number of reading comprehension strategies that you can use to help your child comprehend a text. I have highlighted a few great strategies to help your child that you can easily do at home. The most important thing is to keep reading, be patient, and most of all have fun so your child enjoys reading!
Resources for More Information/Sources:
The Science of Reading In Action - Malia Hollowell
Reading Rockets - Reading Comprehension 101
Reading Rockets - Text Comprehension
Institute of Education Sciences - Tips for Supporting Reading Skills at Home
Understood.org - Tips to help your child understand what they read
Read Naturally - Comprehension: The Goal of Reading
Benchmark Education - Best Practices in Reading Comprehension