How to increase your child's reading comprehension.

Your child's education is vital for a successful future. These steps will allow your child to read better and comprehend what they read.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Finding clues before reading. The words, pictures and other information can give your child a lot of clues about the story is about. Take a minute to check out and find clues. Look at the picture on the front of the book. If there are people ask: who are these people and what will they be doing in this story? Read the back cover. Some books will actually write a summary of the story on the back cover!

2. Look for clues inside before reading. Take a moment to analyze the table of contents. Authors have a reason for naming chapters a certain way. Use the clues from the outside of the book and the chapter titles to predict the actions of each chapter. Look for other clues in the book which may give away information: pictures, maps, charts, or cartoons. If the author put it in there it must be needed to tell the story. Use these clues to understand the story before actually reading it!

3. Read, summarize, connect and predict. As your child is reading get them into the practice of summarizing what they just read. What just happened in the story? Who was involved? Why did they do that? This can be done after each page or even after each chapter. Have them connect this story with other stories and experiences. Where else did they read about dragons? Isn't the place in the story similar to the place you took them to last summer? Making connects can make the people, places and things more real and more enjoyable. The next thing is to predict what will happen next and, more importantly, why they predicted things will go that way. This will not only get your child to think ahead but also use the evidence in the story to back up their prediction!

4. Model and Share. Modeling good habits is what adults should do all the time. Having your child see you take time out to read will illustrate to them the importance of reading. Share with them some of the books and stories you have read. Doing this will open a line of communication about reading, how stories connect as well as a bond between you and your child. Visit the library or bookstore auction. The time together will not only pay out as your child become more successful in school but also in the quality time together.

[mhordy]

on 9/25/2008 Great Ideas. Get the child to think in a more creative way. Good Job.
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