What is the ultimate goal for reading anyway? What is the point? What's the purpose? I'll tell you what it is. It's COMPREHENSION! We read to comprehend. We want to know what that sign says so we know where we are. We want to know what's the menu says so we know what to order. We want to know what the email forward says so we know if we'll have good luck if we push it on to twenty of our friends. We want to know what the directions say so we'll know how to play the board game. You get the idea.
It's not too early to start with your first grader either. We get so focused on the phonics and decoding piece of reading that we often forget to check the kiddos comprehension. That's why it's important for the students to be on an appropriate level. If the text is even a "smidgen" too difficult...they will be too focused on decoding and won't comprehend a thing that they just read. It's like the sweet spot on a baseball bat. We want the books to be right in that sweet spot of decoding and comprehension.
Start asking your child questions about what they just read. I always use this trick. I'll say, "I'm sorry! I wasn't paying close attention on that page. Could you tell me what just happened." Or, just ask literal question about the book when they are finished. (like who, what, when, where, why type of questions) Also, it's fun to write a sentence down and have the child read it. Then, take the sentence away and ask them questions about that very sentence. (Like, "The red dog jumped over the puddle in the yard") Then ask, "What kind of animal was in this sentence?" or "What did the dog do in this sentence?"
So, get rockin' on your comprehension strategies at home. We are at school. I know there will be a big section of comprehension activities on this years standardized test. It's tough too! So, any extra practice would be well worth the time.
