Comprehension Strategies

	The undisputed purpose of learning to read is to comprehend. Comprehension is understanding what you have read. Engaging children in text comprehension may occur before, during, or after reading a text. There are many things that you can do at home that will help your child to improve his or her comprehension. The most important activity is to read together. It sounds so simple but it truly will have an impact on your child's efforts to understand print. Good readers use a number of different comprehension strategies as they read. Beginning readers often need help understanding what these strategies are and how to use them. Learning reading strategies will give your child the tools he or she needs to improve their ability to understand what they read.
Suggestions for parents: * Read together * Develop a Broad Background * Create Motivation and Interest * Share opinions * Discuss of how's and why's
	Before Reading * Set a Purpose for Reading * Look at the Cover * Read the Title * Picture Walk and Preview the text * Make Predictions * Preview Vocabulary * Think about what you already know
During Reading * Monitor Your Understanding - Does it Make sense? - If not, Reread or Slow down * Visualize what you are reading * Make connections - This reminds me of... - I know someone that... * Ask Questions * Make Predictions * Use context and picture clues
	Unknown Word Strategy * Skip word and read on to end of sentence * Look at the Pictures * Put a word in that makes sense * Look for smaller words inside the larger one * Sound Out the Word * Read the sentence again * Think about the beginning sound * Think about the ending sound * Think about the sound that the vowel makes
After Reading * Create a Story Map - characters - setting - problem - sequence of steps to solve problem - final solution to the problem * Retell Story * Summarize * Ask/Answer Questions * Children can dramatize stories by acting them out. * Have them retell the story in their own words. * Have the children talk about the characters they liked best. * Ask children to make a list of events that took place in the story. * They may also illustrate the events by drawing sequential pictures to tell what happened in the story. * You can also have children write letters to the author telling what they liked about their stories. * Have children to come up with a few questions to ask a friend or a parent a few questions about the story. * Have them put events on an index card and put them in order. * The Children can make puppets of their favorite character * Have them act out the story to a parent or friend.
Independent Strategies When I get stuck on a word in a book There are lots of things to do I can try them all, please, by myself; But I may need help from you. I can look at the picture to get a hint Or think what the story's about I can "get my mouth ready" to say the first letter, A kind of "sounding out." I can chop the word into smaller parts, Like "on" and "ing" and "ly", Or find smaller words in compound words Like "rain" "coat" and "bumblebee." I can think of a word that makes sense in that place, Guess or say "blank" and read on Until the sentence has reached its end, Then go back and try these on: "Does it make sense?" "Can we say it that way?" "Does it look right to me?" Chances are the right word will pop out In my own mind, can't you see? If I've thought of and tried out most of these things And I still do not know what to do, Then I may turn to you and ask For some help to get me through.