Comprehension is a key factor in determining reading skills throughout all grade levels. However, it is often expected and not expressed. Bassically, we often think it comes automatically (which it does a little) and overlook how to teach comprehension to children. In chapter 7 of Classrooms That Work, comprehension is expressed in detail and several methods of how to teach it are listed.
1. Think-Alouds: A way of modeling or publicly speaking about the thinking going on in your head when you are reading.
- I wonder what will happen next
- I know she must be feeling...
- Mmmm I can smell the....
*The poster to the right could hang up in the classroom as the class is reading.
2. KWL: What we know, what we want to know, and what we learned posters are a great way to track comprehension in informational texts. This allows the children to ask questions and discover answers as they are reading. These can be used for a variety of grade levels but most often used in 3rd-5th grade. Here is a print off!
Other ideas for comprehension that I found on Pinterest include a thinking bubble for the children when they are reading, sticky notes that mean different thoughts throughout their reading, and a reading comprehension chart to place in the classroom!
Thinking
Bubble: --->
"Think Marks": Helpful Poster:
Question: What are some other ideas you have for your future classroom when it comes to reading comprehension?
Beth, you included a lot of great activities that could be used in the classroom to focus on comprehension. I think that Think Alouds are extremely important because they allow the students to begin having a conversation about text, which I have found is the best way to comprehend and understand material.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I really like the idea of having literature circles in my classroom. I think it gives students an opportunity to read many different things and collaborate while they read. I love your idea about "think marks" for reading though!
ReplyDelete