Reading

Comprehension
From phonics to fluency:
How to question your child
Aims

To understand what is reading

comprehension is
To understand why is reading
comprehension important
To be aware of the development of reading
comprehension
To give examples of types of questioning
To provide handouts and answer questions
What is reading comprehension?
Apple banana blue walk tree happy sing.

Reading comprehension being able to understanding what you

are reading.
It is one of the pillars of the act of reading.
Part of a complex array of cognitive processes.
Using awareness and understanding of phonemes, phonics
and the ability to comprehend or construct meaning from
the text.
Reading comprehension is the last component of the act of
reading. It cannot occur independent of the other two elements
of the process.
It is the most difficult and most important of the three.
Why is reading comprehension
important?
Without comprehension,
reading is nothing more than
tracking symbols on a page
with your eyes and sounding
them out.
Why is reading comprehension
important?
It is essential to life.
Development of reading
comprehension:
Reading comprehensionis the ability to process
information that we have read and understand its
meaning. This is a complex process with threelevelsof
understanding:

Evaluative meaning

Inferential meaning

Literal meaning
Literal meaning
Read the lines
Questions that have responses that are
directly stated in the text.
The main idea, characters in the text, stated facts, the
sequence of events
The answers will always be found in the text
Eg. What happened to the lady?
Inferential meaning
Read between the lines
Questions have responses that are indirectly stated,
induced, or require other information.
Starts with the stated information
This information is then used to determine deeper meaning that
is not explicitly stated
Requires you to think about the text and draw a conclusion.
A question about inferential meaning will typically require you to
provide examples from the text
Eg. Why was she feeling unhappy?
Providing examples from the
text
Why was the lady unhappy?
The car broke down on the way home
The dog ran away
Her husband lost his job
Evaluative/Critical meaning
Read beyond the lines
Question that require the reader to formulate a response based
on their previous reading experience, their life experience and
their opinions on issues relevant to the text.
Using critical thinking to make judgments about what was read in
the text.
Was it fact or opinion, how valid was the text, how appropriate was the text?

Making comparisons
Example:
Do you think it was right for Little Red Riding Hoods mother to send her off
into the woods alone? Why or why not?
Putting it all together
Puppies are very small when they are born. They
cannot see until they are about two weeks old. During
this time, they stay very close to their mothers.

What type of questioning is being used?

What are puppies like when they are born?
Are puppies born blind?
Why do they stay close to their mothers?
Would you like to have a puppy?
Questioning types
Literal Inferential Evaluative

What are Are puppies Would you like

puppies like born blind? to have a
when they are puppy?
born? Why do they
stay close to
their mothers?
Literal comprehension Inferential comprehension Evaluative comprehension
summarize, count, name, list, identify (time and place for reflect, relate, compare, rank,
copy, record, retell example), classify, categorize, critique, dispute, challenge,
explain, predict, analyze extend, imitate, adapt (poem,
song, drawing)

Sample questions Sample questions Sample questions

How many characters are
there?
What color is the _____?
What is the name of the main
character?
List the places they visit.
What does X say in response
to Y?
What happens in this
chapter?
Why does X do that?
What does X care most about?
What kind of environments
does X live/work in?
Who or what is Xs friend
antagonist?
What is X likely to do next?
What are the root causes of Xs
problems?
What kinds of conflicts or
problems does X face?
What kinds of people does X
meet?
Is the narrator telling the story
a reliable source of info?
What other characters from
other books does X remind you
of?
Where have you encountered
similar conflicts or settings?
What would make this story
more effective?
Which episode is the most
impactful to you? Why?
What might a sequel or a
prequel to this look like?
How realistic is this story?
What outside knowledge do you
need to understand and
appreciate this book?
Progression through the years
Year Literal Inferential Evaluative
group
1
2
3
4
5
6
The development of reading
and reading comprehension
Years 1 and 2
Phonics small units of sound which are blended/segmented to make a
word
Using picture clues to help read words
Recognition of words by sight
Beginning to read a wider range of books, with more fluency
Talk about a text
o Give reasons why things happen and how characters change
o Predict what might happen
Noticing special features of texts, including non-fiction texts
o Eg. chapters, labels, diagrams, titles
Discuss meanings of words
Recall some specific, straightforward information and I have a generally
clear idea of where to look for information.
The development of reading
and reading comprehension
Years 3 and 4
Read aloud with fluency and expression, a range of fiction,
poetry, plays, non-fiction or reference books
Understand the meaning of new words (using a dictionary to
check)
Draw inferences such as inferring characters feelings, thoughts
and motives from their actions, and justifying inferences with
evidence.
Predict what might happen from details stated and implied.
Identify main ideas drawn from more than one paragraph and
summarise these.
Identify how language, structure and presentation contribute to
meaning
Things to remember when
reading with children
Monitor comprehension
Make sure that is makes sense

Make connections
Share connections as you read aloud. Eg. places of vacation, memories

Ask questions
Pose questions that spark curiosity. What are you wondering?

Figure out what is important

Use a story element organiser

Make inferences
Combine what you already know with clues from the story
And finally
Questions and handouts

Evaluative

Inferential

Literal