Trouble with Reading Comprehension?

I tutor kids who attend public or private schools and find themselves drowning in classes which require lots of reading. They don’t have difficulty sounding out words—so what’s the problem? Typically, the vocabulary and concepts are unfamiliar. This is often the case with social studies and science texts. Students may be required to read and take tests on chapters with little time to digest information they don’t understand. Those who’ve had past experiences to bring into their reading have a foundation on which to build and may be able to handle the pace. Unfortunately, many kids just try to silently read and memorize content in order to pass a test. If that’s all they did in the past, even content meant to be familiar won’t be.

I help struggling students by reading portions out loud and then explaining what I’ve read in my own words, adding examples. Then I have them read a portion and try to do the same, helping them as necessary. If there’s time, I supplement the materials with simple, illustrated library books or find short video clips on the Internet. I also ask parents to pick up related videos from the library. All this gives the students ways to make sense of vocabulary and content they find daunting. Memorizing without understanding can leave kids anxious. Really understanding—even if it’s only a portion of the material—ultimately inspires confidence in their own ability to learn.