| To improve a child's reading comprehension, they | | | | approach, the child answers the question by acting |
| must first become inspired about reading. To help | | | | it out. Drama is a great teaching tool, as topics |
| inspire children to read, the parent must create | | | | can be explored further with the use of role-play |
| motivation and interest. So let's first consider this | | | | Listening comprehension |
| question. | | | | It is also important for parents to realize that |
| What is the purpose of reading? | | | | learning to read begins at an early age because a |
| The purpose of reading is to connect the words | | | | child learns to read by being read to. First comes |
| on the page to what we already know. If you | | | | listening comprehension followed by reading |
| don't know anything about a subject, then you | | | | comprehension. Babies and young toddlers will |
| don't retain much. But if you do, you have a | | | | usually take an interest in the look and feel of a |
| framework in your mind for reading, | | | | book and this should be encouraged and |
| understanding and storing information. For | | | | developed. Showing the book to the child, flipping |
| example, if you like films then reading film reviews | | | | through the pages, looking at the pictures and |
| is easy. Therefore, good reading equals building | | | | talking about the book is in its very early stages a |
| frameworks for connecting words to thoughts. | | | | reading comprehension activity. It is never to |
| Connecting words to thoughts | | | | early for a child to develop a love of books! |
| A child may be crazy about Spiderman. As he | | | | In summary |
| she already has knowledge and interest in the | | | | Read aloud to the child. This activity increases |
| subject, he/she is able to connect the words to | | | | listening comprehension, which must come first |
| his/her thoughts. In other words the child has | | | | before reading comprehension. |
| comprehension or beginning to comprehend what | | | | Choose or let the child choose reading material |
| is on the page. | | | | that is already of interest to them. Reading |
| Simple reading comprehension activities will test a | | | | comprehension requires motivation, interest, |
| child's comprehension of what they have just | | | | mental frameworks for holding ideas and |
| read. For example the parent can ask questions | | | | concentration. |
| about the text in order to identify the main ideas | | | | Ask the child questions about the story or piece |
| and to draw conclusions. Or ask the child to draw | | | | of text they have read. Comprehension questions |
| a picture of say the main character from the | | | | help children identify the main idea and draw |
| description they have just read. For a livelier | | | | conclusion. |