Tips To Improve Reading Comprehension
Reference & Education → Education
- Author Susan Fitzell, M. Ed.
- Published September 28, 2011
- Word count 398
The key to improving reading comprehension is using strategies that support working memory when reading. We want information to stay in working memory, and to be processed there, for as long as possible. This is especially important with new material or when students don’t personally relate to the information. There are various methods of doing this that may work for your student:
Highlight Important Information
Highlighting important information tells the brain that it’s unique and significant, so it ‘stands out’ in our working memory. Use highlight tape to have students highlight information when they don’t own the book.
Tape Summarizations
Have kids use a tape recorder, or work with a partner if a recorder is not available, to summarize their reading. When they get to the end of a page, have them stop and summarize what they just read into a tape recorder. Now they’ve read the material and have had to think about it again right away. This repetition keeps what they just read in working memory longer and increases the likelihood they will remember it.
Ask Questions
Another effective strategy is to ask questions at the end of a reading. Have a template with questions like: Has anything like this ever happened to me? Did I ever feel this way? Does this happen in my neighborhood? At the end of each reading, have students answer a question in their journal or notebook, or answer a question to a partner. This strategy can also be used for homework by sending a list of questions home with a reading assignment.
Use Storyboards
To make a storyboard, have students fold a piece of paper into squares and draw about what they read. They might do this while they read a story for the first time, as a review with a partner, or for homework after a reading assignment. The process of turning verbal information into a visual format reinforces the learning and helps keep the information in working memory longer.
Teach Each Other
Research shows that teaching each other, or peer teaching, is one of the most powerful ways to learn. After teaching for seven to ten minutes, give students one to three minutes to share with each other. Talking it out with a partner lets students correct misconceptions and reinforces the material by keeping it in working memory long enough to make an impact.
Susan Fitzell is a nationally recognized speaker and author of several educational resource books. She has over two decades of experience with differentiated instruction, teaching youth with special needs, students with behavioral and anger management issues, and students who experience bullying. Susan’s company, AIMHI Educational Programs, focuses on building caring school communities. http://aimhieducational.com/
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- IT TAKES A VILLAGE
- Closing the Digital Gap: Overcoming Accessibility Barriers for Students with Disabilities in Benin City
- Expert Quran Teacher for Kids and Adults
- Why is the study of history is critical?
- First Aid Courses and CPR Training - Safety Learning
- A META-ANALYSIS ON THE IMPACT OF CRAMMING AS LEARNING STRATEGIES AMONG SHS STUDENTS IN GHANA
- Revolutionize Your School's Online Presence with a Cutting-Edge CMS Website Development
- How to Find Emotive Language in a Text: A Comprehensive Guide
- Addressing the Rise of Academic Pressure
- Standard Thickness of Asphalt Pavement
- The Importance of Character Education from an Early Age
- Education, Evolution & AI - Mixing Technology and Learning in the 21st Century
- Obtain Full G Driver’s License in Ontario
- Top Tips for Writing High-Scoring University Assignments Insights from Assignment Experts
- Parents Guide to Finding the Best Bay Area Tutoring for Your Child
- The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Top Driving School in Manhattan
- Gearing Up: Automatic vs. Manual Driving Lessons
- Unified Field Theory Is Explainable
- Project Management in the Digital Age: Leveraging Technology for Success
- Progressing through the Lean Six Sigma Belt Levels: A Journey from White to Black
- A part of Crisis at school: School violence
- Unlocking Success: Why Phonological Awareness Matters for Kids and How to Support It
- Unlocking the Power of Assessment: Strategies for Effective Evaluation
- Unlocking Intellectual Potential: Edinburgh, UK Manuscript Illustrations
- Viruses, structures, causes and prevention
- the importance of stars
- Love and Limits: How to set limits while preserving loving relationships with students
- Unveiling the Potential: A Comprehensive Exploration of "Crushing It With Crypto 2024: UNLOCKED"
- The Evolution of Artificial Intelligence: Past, Present, and Future
- The Impact of the War in Ukraine on the School Study Process