Teaching Reading Comprehension... can it be done?

[Old Dominion Heather]

A friend of mine has a child who is in high school and is having reading comprehension problems. Have any of you brought a child home and worked on this? If you were able to improve your child's comprehension, how did you do it?

[Linda in NM]

I'm not a reading specialist, but I'm an instructional designer...I'd start with modeling, and constructed examples...maybe even cloze passages (so the child could begin by "filling in the blanks," develop some confidence (which is probably also lacking), and gradually become more and more able to complete the process on his or her own...

[Janet in Toronto]

My older son has always been in school (i.e, never homeschooled) and has had reading comprehension issues. I try to read the novels that he is reading in HS lit classes so that we can discuss them. In Grade 10, we actually read aloud parts of The Great Gatsby together and discussed it. We'd read a page or so (using two copies, his plus one from the library for me), stop, and discuss what had happened. I was able to ask him questions about content, tone, style, etc as we went. I think it helped him to read more closely and critically.

 

Same with Frankenstein, this year (Grade 11). We didnt' actually read that one aloud together, but had LOTS of discussions about it and I helped him to think through a major essay that he wrote on it.

 

This process has worked very well for him (I think) and I've enjoyed having someone to discuss literature with! We're onto MacBeth next week.

 

Janet

[BonAmy]

with improving reading comprehension with all of my kiddos.. especially my 14yos who has alot of reading and language issues. We use the old SRA reading set.. it's in a white box, and has 100 cards in it.. each with a story to read and a set of questions. The readings and questions get harder as you get closer to the end of the box. It will take a child up to a 12th grade reading level.

I found my set at Half Price Books for about $12. You can probably find one online, or call around to used bookstores or homeschool stores. I actually have an extra one, if you are in the dallas area? you could have it for free, if you come pick it up.

hth

BonAmy

[Frontier Mom]

I am using McCall-Crabbs Standard Test Lessons in Reading. This has helped around here. However, I haven't used them as much lately and need to get it out. Thanks for reminding me.

 

I also bought Reading Comprehension books at Barnes & Noble for each grade level. I have mine do an hour of Test Prep or Reading Comp. daily. Not only does this help them feel familiar with test taking, it also helps with comprehension.

 

Just a couple of suggestions because we really struggle in this area.

[Claire]

Some children get to high school with weak decoding skills. As text complexity increases (and predictability of text decreases), comprehension problems start showing up. Another common contributing factor to poor comprehension is inadequate vocabulary development. Yet another possibility is weak visualization skills. (To understand how visualization skills contribute to comprehension, see the explanation at http://www.mindprime.com . Click on "why people have difficulty with comprehension" in the upper lefthand corner of the home page.)

 

What I would recommend to cover the decoding skills piece is that she do Rewards Secondary with him at home. This is a scripted program and very easy to do. It takes about 25 hours total working one-on-one. Cost is about $100, as she would need the Teacher's Manual and a student workbook. This program is very efficient at teaching multi-syllable word attack skills and raising reading fluency levels.

 

For vocabulary, WordSmart is a good computer CD program that can be done independently, if she can afford it. The student would need to spend about 20 minutes a day 3 to 5 times a week on it.

 

If his comprehension of material read out loud to him is poor, in addition to poor comprehension of material he reads himself, then it is highly likely that IdeaChain (at the Mindprime site) would help.

 

There is a book available about working with teenagers to improve comprehension. However, I found it not particularly friendly to homeschool use. The writer is an experienced teacher who basically shares the techniques she has found effective in classroom settings.

[Call Me Cordelia]

My dd has some gaps/issues with this. I have found the Critical Thinking Press materials to be very helpful.