According to Reading Rockets, "Reading comprehension is being able to understand and interpret what you are reading. First you must be able to decode the words, then connect what you are reading with what you already know and finally be able to think deeply about what you read." “One big part of comprehension is having a sufficient vocabulary, or knowing the meanings of enough words. Readers who have strong comprehension are able to draw conclusions about what they read – what is important, what is a fact, what caused an event to happen, which characters are funny. Thus comprehension involves combining reading with thinking and reasoning.”
“Comprehension is the reason for reading. If readers can read the words but do not understand or connect to what they are reading, they are not really reading. Good readers are both purposeful and active, and have the skills to absorb what they read, analyze it, make sense of it, and make it their own.
"Strong readers think actively as they read. They use their experiences and knowledge of the world, vocabulary, language structure, and reading strategies to make sense of the text and know how to get the most out of it. They know when they have problems with understanding and what thinking strategies to use to resolve these problems when they pop up." Families that value reading and embed it in their daily routines are fostering an early love of reading and laying the foundation for a lifetime of learning. Plan a read aloud time that won’t be interrupted and can easily fit into your schedule. Many families include it as part of a bedtime routine.
When you are reading to your child, remember that talking about reading is as important as reading itself. The wonderful thing about reading to your child is that you can choose a book beyond their reading level to deepen their comprehension skills. You might chat about the characters and who they remind you of and why. You might ponder over the life lessons the characters are learning what the author wants you to learn too!