The Importance of Comprehension
Comprehension is a vital component of reading that goes beyond simply decoding words. It refers to the ability to understand and make meaning from written text. Comprehension allows readers to grasp the meaning of what they read. It helps them make sense of the words, sentences, and paragraphs, enabling them to understand the overall message, plot, characters, and ideas presented in a text. It is the gateway to acquiring knowledge and information from various sources. Comprehension skills encourage critical thinking and analysis. understand and connect with a story or informational text, it becomes more engaging, enjoyable, and meaningful to them. This positive experience fosters a love for reading and motivates the reader to explore more books and texts. Reading comprehension strengthens a child's communication skills. When they comprehend what they read, they can effectively convey ideas, express themselves clearly in writing or speaking, and engage in meaningful discussions with others. Reading comprehension is crucial for early readers because it allows them to understand, learn, think critically, engage, and enjoy reading. It is a foundational skill that supports their academic success, knowledge acquisition, communication abilities, and lifelong learning journey.
How can I support my child with this skill when in kindergarten?
Before reading have your child make a prediction about what you think the story will be about. Then after reading ask your child to review the basic story elements...who are are characters, what is the setting, what was the problem and how was the problem solved. You can also review the components of story to determine is it fiction or nonfiction. This skill can be tricky for kids.