C. Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand and interpret written text. It involves decoding words, recognizing vocabulary, understanding grammar and syntax, and grasping the meanings and ideas conveyed by the text. This skill requires making inferences, connecting new information to prior knowledge, and synthesizing ideas to gain a deeper understanding. Reading comprehension is essential for learning, gaining knowledge, enjoying various texts, and effectively using written information in various contexts.
Comprehension is an incredibly complex skill that can vary from day to day, and from text to text. Comprehension cannot be reduced down to a single score, ‘level’ or mark because it is not one single thing.
“The reader brings a set of cognitive abilities (such as attention, memory, and reasoning), language knowledge and skills, motivations and interests, and background knowledge to the task of reading. Readers vary considerably in these factors, and this variability impacts their comprehension.” (Catts, 2022)
Further Reading
No More Strategies of the Week: Considerations for connecting comprehension instruction back to the book (Conradi Smith et al., 2024)
Reading Comprehension Development and Difficulties: An Overview (article)
Comprehension in Disguise: The Role of Knowledge in Children’s Learning (article)
Reading Comprehension Revisited: Now They Had Something to Write About (podcast)
Comprehension: Helping English Language Learners Grasp the Full Picture (video)
