12/2/22, 10:32 PM 6 Best Ways to Improve Reading Comprehension

6 Strategies to Improve Reading Comprehension

Try these tips to help your child develop stronger literacy skills.

By Scholastic Parents Staff Aug 30, 2022

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12/2/22, 10:32 PM 6 Best Ways to Improve Reading Comprehension

Developing reading comprehension skills is incredibly important for early readers, starting as early as picture
books. As school-aged children get older, it will help them understand textbooks, newspapers, and other
more complex texts.

Scholastic offers plenty of grade-appropriate reading comprehension activity books that can help your
child practice, but in addition, here are six tips to sharpen reading comprehension skills in your early
reader. 

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12/2/22, 10:32 PM 6 Best Ways to Improve Reading Comprehension

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1. Have them read aloud. This encourages them to go slower, which gives them more time to process what
they read and in turn improves reading comprehension. Plus, they're not only seeing the words — they're
hearing them, too! You can also take turns reading aloud.

2. Provide books at the right level. Make sure your school-aged reader gets lots of practice reading books
that aren't too hard. They should recognize at least 90 percent of the words without any help. Stopping any
more often than that to figure out a word makes it tough for kids to focus on the overall meaning of the
story.

If your child needs help transitioning from picture books to chapter books, try Scholastic's Branches books,
which are designed to bridge that gap for growing readers. 

3. Reread to build fluency. To gain meaning from text and encourage reading comprehension, your child
needs to read quickly and smoothly — a skill known as fluency. By the beginning of 3rd grade, for example,
your child should be able to read 90 words a minute.

Rereading familiar, simple books gives your child practice at decoding words quickly, so they'll become
more fluent in their reading comprehension. (For simple books your child will love to reread, check out
these expert-approved beginner books.)

4. Talk to the teacher. If your child is struggling with reading comprehension, they may need more help with
building their vocabulary or practicing phonics skills. (This Pokémon Phonics Boxed Set and this Pete the
Cat Phonics Box Set are fun ways to help your child build necessary phonics skills.) A teacher can weigh in
on the best next steps to take.

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12/2/22, 10:32 PM 6 Best Ways to Improve Reading Comprehension

5. Supplement their class reading. If your child's class is studying a particular theme, look for easy-to-read
books or magazines on the topic. Some prior knowledge will help them make their way through tougher
classroom texts and promote reading comprehension.

6. Talk about what they're reading. This "verbal processing" helps them remember and think through the
themes of the book. Ask questions before, during, and after a session to encourage reading comprehension.
(Read about all the questions you should ask during story time here!) For example: 

Before: "What are you interested in about this book? What doesn't interest you?" 

During: "What's going on in the book? Is it turning out the way you thought it would? What do you think
will happen next?" 

After: "Can you summarize the book? What did you like about it? What other books does it remind you
of?"

Shop resources to improve your child's reading comprehension below! You can find all books and activities
at The Scholastic Store. 

Workbooks for Reading Comprehension

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12/2/22, 10:32 PM 6 Best Ways to Improve Reading Comprehension

BOOKS | INDIVIDUAL TITLES | ACTIVITY BOOK

Scholastic Success With Grade 1: Reading Comprehension

GR AD E
S
1

More than 40 ready-to-use, skill-building practice pages with easy-to-follow directions and fun, motivating exercises!
Perfect for classroom or at-home use, this exciting practice book includes high-interest...
Learn More

$6.99
$6.99

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BOOKS | INDIVIDUAL TITLES | ACTIVITY BOOK

Scholastic Success With Grade 2: Reading Comprehension

GR AD E
S
2

More than 40 ready-to-use, skill-building practice pages with easy-to-follow directions and fun, motivating exercises!
Perfect for classroom or at-home use, this exciting practice book includes high-interest...
Learn More

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12/2/22, 10:32 PM 6 Best Ways to Improve Reading Comprehension

$6.99
$6.99

ADD TO CART

BOOKS | INDIVIDUAL TITLES | ACTIVITY BOOK

Scholastic Success With Grade 3: Reading Comprehension

GR AD E
S
3

More than 40 ready-to-use, skill-building practice pages with easy-to-follow directions and fun, motivating exercises!
Perfect for classroom or at-home use, this exciting practice book includes high-interest...
Learn More

$6.99
$6.99

ADD TO CART

BOOKS | INDIVIDUAL TITLES | ACTIVITY BOOK

Scholastic Success With Grade 4: Reading Comprehension

GR AD E
S
4

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12/2/22, 10:32 PM 6 Best Ways to Improve Reading Comprehension

More than 40 ready-to-use, skill-building practice pages with easy-to-follow directions and fun, motivating exercises!
Perfect for classroom or at-home use, this exciting practice book includes high-interest...
Learn More

$6.99
$6.99

ADD TO CART

BOOKS | INDIVIDUAL TITLES | ACTIVITY BOOK

Scholastic Success With Grade 5: Reading Comprehension

GR AD E
S
5

More than 40 ready-to-use, skill-building practice pages with easy-to-follow directions and fun, motivating exercises!
Perfect for classroom or at-home use, this exciting practice book includes high-interest...
Learn More

$6.99
$6.99

ADD TO CART

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Phonics Sets to Improve Comprehension

BOOKS | COLLECTIONS AND LIBRARIES | BOXED SET

Pokemon Phonics Boxed Set

GR AD E
S
Pre-K - 3

Learn to read with help from your favorite Pokémon! This boxed set of twelve easy-to-read books is designed just for kids
learning their letter sounds. The fun, action-packed stories in each book feature...
Learn More

$10.39
$12.99

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BOOKS | COLLECTIONS AND LIBRARIES | BOXED SET

Pete the Cat Phonics Box Set

GR AD E
S
Pre-K - 3

Young readers can develop their phonics skills with Pete the Cat in his very first phonics I Can Read box set. The set comes
complete with twelve full-color books covering short and long vowel sounds,...

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Learn More

$12.99
$12.99

ADD TO CART

BOOKS | COLLECTIONS AND LIBRARIES | BOXED SET

Disney Learning: Fancy Nancy Phonics Box Set

GR AD E
S
Pre-K - 1

This introduction to phonics and sight words is perfect for beginning readers who know and love Fancy Nancy. Reading
these stories again and again will boost phonics skills and help children learn to recognize...
Learn More

$12.99
$12.99

ADD TO CART

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BOOKS | INDIVIDUAL TITLES | PAPERBACK BOOK

Spider-Man Phonics Collection: Short Vowels

GR AD E
S
Pre-K - 1

This introduction to short vowel sounds is perfect for beginning readers who know and love Spider-Man!Beloved
characters, familiar stories, and simple text will motivate and inspire early learners to practice...
Learn More

$8.99
$8.99

ADD TO CART

BOOKS | INDIVIDUAL TITLES | PAPERBACK BOOK

Disney Learning: Disney Princess Phonics Collection: Short Vowels

GR AD E
S
Pre-K - 1

This introduction to short vowel sounds is perfect for beginning readers who know and love the Disney Princesses!Beloved
characters, familiar stories, and simple text will motivate and inspire early learners...
Learn More

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$8.99
$8.99

ADD TO CART

BOOKS | COLLECTIONS AND LIBRARIES | BOXED SET

Disney Learning: Toy Story Phonics Box

GR AD E
S
Pre-K - 3

This introduction to phonics and sight words is perfect for beginning readers who know and love Toy Story. Reading these
stories again and again will boost phonics skills and help children learn to recognize...
Learn More

$12.99
$12.99

ADD TO CART

BOOKS | INDIVIDUAL TITLES | PAPERBACK BOOK

Disney Pixar Phonics Collection: Short Vowels

GR AD E
S
Pre-K - 1

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Race with Lightning McQueen, have fun with Mike and Sully, join Remy in the kitchen, and more! This introduction to short
vowel sounds is perfect for beginning readers who know and love Pixar films.Beloved...
Learn More

$8.99
$8.99

ADD TO CART

Book Sets to Boost Reading

Comprehension

BOOKS | COLLECTIONS AND LIBRARIES | BOXED SET

Dog Man: The Epic Collection (Books #1-3)

GR AD E
S
2-5

Dog Man is the crime-biting canine who is part dog, part man, and ALL HERO! This three-book boxed set includes the first,
second, and third books in the Dog Man series: Dog Man, Dog Man Unleashed, and...
Learn More
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$26.99
$38.97

ADD TO CART

BOOKS | COLLECTIONS AND LIBRARIES | PAPERBACK BOOK COLLECTION

The Bad Guys #1-12 Collection

GR AD E
S
2-5

Getting into trouble is what the Bad Guys do best! The Bad Guys are scary and dangerous and well? just BAD. But these
guys want to be heroes, and they're ready to spring into action. Get ready to laugh...
Learn More

$54.99
$73.88

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BOOKS | COLLECTIONS AND LIBRARIES | PAPERBACK BOOK COLLECTION

Who Would Win? Ultimate Rumble Pack

GR AD E
S
1-4

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In this innovative science series from favorite nonfiction author Jerry Pallotta, readers will learn about dangerous creatures
by asking "Who would win?" Each book is illustrated with full-color pictures...
Learn More

$19.99
$24.95

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Who Would Win? Value Set (Pack of 8)

GR AD E
S
1-3

This set includes:Who Would Win?: Hammerhead vs. Bull SharkWho Would Win?: Komodo Dragon vs. King CobraWho
Would Win?: Tarantula vs. ScorpionWho Would Win?: Whale vs. Giant SquidWho Would Win?: Killer...
Learn More

$23.94
$31.92

ADD TO CART

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BOOKS | COLLECTIONS AND LIBRARIES | PAPERBACK BOOK COLLECTION

Branches Press Start! Value Pack (Books 1-4)

GR AD E
S
K-2

This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read
text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page,...
Learn More

$14.97
$19.96

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Wings of Fire Starter Collection (Pack of 10)

GR AD E
S
3-7

This set contains the first 10 books of the bestselling Wings of Fire series.
Learn More

$59.99
$79.90

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ADD TO CART

BOOKS | COLLECTIONS AND LIBRARIES | BOXED SET

Dog Man: The Supa Epic Collection (Books #1-6)

GR AD E
S
2-5

Dog Man is the crime-biting canine who is part dog, part man, and ALL HERO! This deluxe boxed set includes the first six
books in the Dog Man series: Dog Man, Dog Man Unleashed, Dog Man: A Tale of Two...
Learn More

$53.99
$77.94

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BOOKS | COLLECTIONS AND LIBRARIES | PAPERBACK BOOK COLLECTION

I Survived Series Pack (Books #1-14)

GR AD E
S
1-3

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History's most exciting and terrifying events come to life in a collection of books 1-14 in the New York Times bestselling I
Survived series. This value pack includes: I Survived the Sinking Of the Titanic,...
Learn More

$59.99
$59.99

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