Lately I find that children can read fluently, yet when you ask them a question they have no idea what they read.
This is why we must teach kids to read with understanding. This will maybe also make them read a lot more.
My personal opinion is they watch stories on television passively. Have you ever asked your child what the story was about. No we never do so they don’t learn to concentrate and don’t remember the whole story.
They play games on tablets that they are really good at, but they still don’t have to read. They develop good hand eye coordination which is good but reading is just as important if not more.
How do we teach children to read with comprehension?
Read with them, listen and then stop them to see if they really know what they read about. If they do not try and explain to them that they must make a picture in their head while reading. If this does not work let them re-read the piece and try it with the picture in their head. This can take a lot of time but nothing is more important than reading and understanding.
Something else you can do is stop the child and ask him/her what they think is going to happen next? Be reasonable it must be something obvious so that if they understood it will not be difficult to tell you. Once they can do that, you can see that the child understood what they were reading. Now it is important to ask the child later on if he still remembers what he read. It is the only way you can be sure that they now really understand what they read.
Keep in mind that the real reason for doing all this is that your child will start to love reading. If a child does not read with understanding it can become boring and they might never learn how to really read.
So be patient and keep on with this. Another way of testing their understanding is by giving them a few written questions to answer about what they have read. Teach children how to break down a word if they don’t understand the meaning, of course a dictionary will be a good idea.
Please don’t forget to teach them how to use a dictionary as they will not just know. Start where they started with the alphabet song and show them that a dictionary works according to the alphabet.
Children should realise if they cannot read with comprehension even a computer will not help because everything involves reading. Computers can help them with their spelling but not writing, and if you cannot read with understanding your computer will not write for you.
Some books to start with following.
image source
This must be started from a very young age it will be so much easier than when they are older. When they are older the work becomes more difficult and they will really struggle if they don’t read with understanding.
Please let us teach our children to love reading again.
Bigbear you are so right about reading. When my daughter was still a baby, I always read to her. We would look at picture books to identify objects. Next came those old golden books of short stories. We went to the library often and took out books and then bought books through the school which help the school with fund raising. So books have been a major part of our lives. My daughter grew up to be an avid reader which helper her throughout her school years.
So I commend you on writing about something so important. You are doing just great with your posts. Thank-you for sharing such good advice!
Hope you will have a great day. I will be going to bed soon as you arise. We literally are at the opposite of the time span. Take care Bigbear! It is always nice to read your posts!!!!! Cabbagepatch :D
Thank you, you are now making me blush as I feel you write these nice replies to me and I so wish I had the same ability, Sleep well my friend.
thank for your awesome post.follow you.
Thank you so much. Please if you know of someone who is older than 60 please just let me know, we want to start a trail for them.
Interesting post.
I am also a lecturer as well as an entrepreneur.
Follow me too @madcool
Thank you so much. I love it when people like my posts. Please if you know of someone over the age of 60 please let me know we want to start a trail for them.
Yey! This is wonderful @bigbear.
I am also concerned with my boy's reading comprehension, though he seems to be at the right track. We just really need to put on more time for reading.
He used to hate reading, which now blame to his astigmatism which I did not catch early on. But now, he loves reading and we are working on comprehension.
I am also starting with my 2 little ones... so tips here and there are really helpful.
Thanks,
❤ @arrliinn
Thank you so much, I am so glad if anyting I do help someone. Please let me know how the other two are getting on. Please if you know of someone over the age of 60 please let me know we want to start a trail for them.
Yes, I will, thank you @bigbear.
I will check with our philippine team if there is anyone in the group over 60. I am not sure I know of anyone personally. My mom will be 60 in a few months and she's eager to join. 😉😅 will keep you posted!
Thank you very much.
Good idea...it can be the child learn how read immedetly
Totally agree thank you
Thanks
Absolutely... Nice post
thank you kyrie1234 you are so kind.
My pleasure bigbear
child good.
great post bigbear! keep it up! and thanks again for following!
Love your posts and thanks formy awesome picture love it so much.
cute kids.. always love your post... keep it up madam!
Thank you verymuch.
My son attends a Waldorf school, where they teach maths and logic before teaching children how to read and write, so while most children are taught these skills from 5 years of age, at his school they only start from 7 up. This has always made sense to me and helps reading with understanding, instead of just "learning words and stringing them together". Great article!!
Very interesting thanks for reading.