Comprehension

[kt]

I have a girl in my class this year with a problem I have never encountered. She comprehends absolutely nothing about what she reads. She can decode anything. But she can't read two sentences and tell you what they are about! Somehow she met the benchmark - makes me question test reliability and validity. I don't know where to start! Help!

 

[Mar]

Start Basic

I have taught First Grade for sometime. It sounds like you might want to get the Comprehension practice that starts with two sentences as a paragragh with questions about the two sentences. If she can do this then go to a four sentence single paragraph with questions on the page, and build from here. If she can't answer questions about a two sentence paragraph, I suggest you may need to have your Speech/Language teacher assist you with some suggestions.

 

[kt]

Thanks

Thanks for your reply. She's in the slow-learner category, so I understand some of her problem, but orally, she's fine - she remembers a lot. I'm going to try your idea. Thanks!

 

[Dina]

Picture it

My son had the same problem when he was in school. He could word-call 3 grades above his level, but had zero comprehension. Mostly because nothing interested him except the sports page section of the newspaper. Everything he had to read for school was a struggle for him to comprehend. Things improved when I would have him try to put a picture in his mind of what the words were saying- like watching a movie, or I would have him paraphrase every few sentences or paragraph. I would demonstrate how to read entertaining stories with lots of expression. We would jot down notes, underline, and summarize nonfiction text. I now use some of these same strategies with my students.

 

[kt]

Thanks

Thanks again, all good ideas!