Comprehension is the process of deriving meaning from connected text. It involves word knowledge (vocabulary) as well as thinking and reasoning. Therefore, comprehension is not a passive process, but an active one. The reader actively engages with the text to construct meaning. This active engagement includes making use of prior knowledge. It involves drawing inferences from the words and expressions that a writer uses to communicate information, ideas and viewpoints.
The term ‘comprehension strategies’ is sometimes used to refer to the process of reasoning. Good readers are aware of how well they understand a text while reading. Good readers also take active steps to overcome difficulties in comprehension. Students can be instructed in strategies to improve text comprehension and information use.
Practical Applications
- Instruction can improve comprehension by focusing on concepts and the vocabulary used to express them.
- Comprehension can also be enhanced by building on students’ background knowledge, e.g. by having a group discussion before reading.
- Teachers can guide students by modelling the actions they can take to improve comprehension. These actions include: asking questions about a text while reading; identifying main ideas; using prior knowledge to make predictions.
- Teaching a combination of different strategies is better thanfocusing on one.
- Different methods have been found to be effective in teaching text comprehension. Teachers can use combinations of the following: "Co-operative or group learning", "Graphic organizers (e.g. flow charts, word webs)", "Asking and answering questions", "Story structure", "Summarizing", ""Focusing on vocabulary."
