Improve Reading Comprehension: 6 Tips for Success
Reading comprehension is an essential skill that allows us to understand and retain the information we read. Whether you’re a student struggling to keep up with your studies or an adult looking to improve your reading skills, these seven tips can help you better comprehend what you read:
#1: Preview the material before reading.
Take a few minutes to look over the text, including the headings and subheadings. This will give you an idea of what the material is about and help you focus your attention on the most important points.
For kids, this can also look like scanning through the pages at the pictures or other textual elements that may give a clue about what happens in the text.
#2: Read actively.
Don’t just passively read the words on the page; engage with the material. Underline or highlight key points, take notes, and ask yourself questions about the content.
As you’re helping your child read, be sure they are pausing often to reflect on what they’ve read. Building mental pictures as you go along can also really help with this! Strong visual processing and imagination are core skills that make reading comprehension easier.
#3: Take breaks.
Don’t try to power through a long reading session without a break. Your brain needs time to process the information you’re taking in, so take regular breaks to give it a chance to rest and absorb what you’ve read and learned.
#4: Use context clues.
If you come across a word you don’t know, try to figure out its meaning based on the context in which it’s used. This will help you expand your vocabulary and improve your comprehension of the material.
As you read with your kids, become detectives together by investigating what certain words or phrases mean in the context of the story. Looking at what else is said (or not said) can help you all build this skill and grow your vocabulary!
#5: Vary your reading material.
Reading the same type of material over and over can be monotonous and make it harder to retain information. Mix things up by reading a variety of genres and subjects. Exposing yourself and your kids to a variety of things will keep reading interesting and grow your ability to adapt to new texts and situations.
#6: Practice regularly.
Improving reading comprehension starts with reading regularly. Make time to read every day, and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself with more difficult material as you improve.
However, if you notice that your child continues to struggle with the basics of decoding or sounding out words, it’s important to pause and find out why. Yes, reading comprehension is the goal but that cannot happen until they’ve mastered the basics of phonics, semantics, and fluency.
Building strong reading skills in kids (and adults) starts with the brain. Is your brain able to process information efficiently enough to make sense of it? If not, don’t lose hope!
Brain training has been an effective tool for thousands of individuals who struggle with focus, reading, comprehension, and all other areas of learning. By laying a strong cognitive foundation, you open the door for more enjoyment and success in reading and comprehension.
Improve Reading Comprehension with Targeted Training
If your child continues to struggle no matter how much you or your teachers try to support them, it’s time to take a closer look. There is a solid cognitive foundation that needs to be in place in order for reading comprehension to happen. If any of these core skills is weak, they will falter as texts get harder and more complex.
Understanding your child’s cognitive profile is invaluable to uncover the why behind their struggles to focus, read, comprehend, and learn. We have a targeted approach to build these weak areas in an individualized way—while also focusing in a major way on improving reading comprehension.
