1. Start with the basics – phonics and vocabulary

The ability to identify and sound out individual letters and letter combinations is known as phonics. Phonics is one of the most crucial components of reading literacy. Children who are learning phonics can decipher syllables and comprehend word formation. Vocabulary is also important for reading comprehension because children need to know the meaning of words in order to grasp what they are reading. As a result, it is crucial to teach children vocabulary and phonics before advancing to more complex reading comprehension techniques. Flashcards, word games, and reading activities are just a few of the resources that parents and teachers can use to teach phonics and vocabulary to young children.

2. Encourage active reading

Asking questions, drawing links, and visualising the material are all examples of active reading. Children who read regularly will be better able to comprehend and retain what they are reading. By posing questions about the text, parents can encourage children to be active readers. Engaging them in discussions about the text allows children to learn reading techniques, such as making predictions, summarising the material, and asking questions.

Children can use a variety of techniques, such as summarising, predicting, asking questions, picturing, and drawing links, to increase their reading comprehension. These techniques aid kids in comprehending the book, retaining crucial information, and engaging with the subject matter.

3. Provide books at the right level

Ensuring that your child receives plenty of experience reading books that are not too challenging is imperative. They should be able to identify at least 90% of the words on their own. Children will find it difficult to concentrate on the general meaning of the story if they have to pause more frequently to attempt to decipher the words.

Look for books that are designed to bridge the gap for growing readers who are transitioning from books of varying difficulty levels.

4. Use graphic organisers

Children can develop their reading comprehension skills more easily with the aid of graphic organisers. They can use them to summarise the information they’ve read, link various informational components, and illustrate the information. Since they give the information a visual depiction and make it easier for kids to understand how various bits of information connect to one another, graphic organisers can be particularly beneficial for kids who have trouble understanding what they are reading.

5. Make reading fun

Making reading pleasant and entertaining for kids is crucial for developing their reading comprehension skills. Children who appreciate reading and view it as a fun activity are more apt to acquire good reading comprehension skills. By selecting books and materials that are fascinating and engaging for kids, parents can make reading enjoyable.

Additionally, when reading aloud to their children, parents can use a variety of voices and intonations to make the characters come to life. You may even ask your kid to act out certain scenes or illustrate their favourite passages in the book.

Conclusion

Children must master reading comprehension skills if they are to thrive in school and beyond. Parents can help kids develop their reading comprehension abilities and become effective readers by employing the five tactics we have listed above. With these strategies, your child can become a confident and proficient reader and build solid reading comprehension skills that will benefit them throughout their lifetime.

Besides these strategies, consider enrolling your child in a reading enrichment program in Singapore. Here at The Brain Academia, our literacy enrichment program focuses on strengthening the weak underlying cognitive skills that could be the cause of your child’s literacy struggles. This could include auditory processing skills, visual processing skills, attention skills and more.

What sets us apart is our ground-breaking “sound to code” reading and spelling method, which is based on how young children first learn spoken language. Students who participated in our literacy enrichment program have been found to make reading progress equivalent of 3 to 4 years in just 6 months.

We are an established learning centre that offers a range of fun, extensive and effective cognitive development training programs for children. To learn more, feel free to get in touch with us by filling out this contact form!