Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension is "understanding a text that is read, or the process of 'constructing meaning' from a text. Comprehension is a 'construction process' because it involves all of the elements of the reading process working together as a text is read to create a representation of the text in the reader's mind” (National Institute for Literacy, 2007).

Guiding Principles of Instruction

Research tells us that good readers are purposeful and active. The good news is that text comprehension can be improved by instruction that helps readers use specific comprehension strategies. The following six strategies have a solid scientific foundation according the National Reading Panel report (2000).

• Monitoring comprehension;
• Using graphic and semantic organizers;
• Answering questions;
• Generating questions;
• Recognizing story structure; and
• Summarizing.

There are many helpful resources for teachers on the topic of text comprehension strategies. One is the Mosaic Email Group website. Inspired by the authors of the books Mosaic of Thought (Keene & Zimmermann, 1997), Strategies That Work (Harvey & Goudvis, 2000), I Read it But I Don’t Get It (Tovani, 2000), and Reading with Meaning (Miller, 2002), this online resource offers a directory of teaching tools: http://www.readinglady.com/mosaic/.