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Teaching English in The Elementary Grades

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Grald Traifalgar Patrick Shaw
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30 views

Teaching English in The Elementary Grades

Uploaded by

Grald Traifalgar Patrick Shaw
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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EED 115 Teaching English in Elementary Grades

Reading comprehension is a fundamental skill in language arts that involves understanding the meaning
of written text. It’s not just about recognizing words; it’s about making sense of the information
presented and drawing connections between different parts of the text.

Here’s a breakdown of what reading comprehension entails:

- Decoding: This is the ability to recognize and pronounce words. It’s the foundation of reading
comprehension, as you need to be able to decode words before you can understand their meaning.

- Vocabulary: A strong vocabulary is crucial for understanding the meaning of words and phrases in a
text. The more words you know, the easier it will be to comprehend the text.

- Text Structure: Understanding how texts are organized, such as through paragraphs, headings, and
subheadings, helps readers follow the flow of information and identify key ideas.

- Prior Knowledge: Our existing knowledge of the world and the subject matter of the text plays a
significant role in comprehension. If you have prior knowledge about a topic, you can better understand
the text and make connections to what you already know.

- Inference: This involves drawing conclusions based on the information presented in the text, even if it’s
not explicitly stated.

- Summarization: Being able to summarize the main points of a text demonstrates understanding of the
key ideas and their relationships.

- Critical Thinking: This involves analyzing the text, evaluating the author’s purpose, and forming your
own opinions about the information presented.

Strategies for improving Reading Comprehension:

- Active Reading: Engaging with the text by highlighting key points, taking notes, and asking questions as
you read.

- Predicting: Thinking about what might happen next in the text based on what you’ve already read.

- Visualizing: Creating mental images of the events and characters described in the text.

- Connecting to Prior Knowledge: Actively linking what you’re reading to your existing knowledge and
experiences.

- Re-Reading: Going back over sections of the text that are unclear or confusing to help you understand
them better.
- Asking Questions: Formulating questions about the text to guide your comprehension.

Why is Reading Comprehension Important?

Reading comprehension is essential for success in all areas of life. It allows us to:

- Learn new information: We can acquire knowledge from books, articles, and other written materials.

- Communicate effectively: We can understand and respond to written communication, such as emails,
letters, and documents.

- Solve problems: We can apply our reading comprehension skills to analyze information and find
solutions.

- Enjoy literature: We can appreciate the beauty and power of language through reading fiction, poetry,
and drama.

In conclusion, reading comprehension is a multifaceted skill that is crucial for academic, professional,
and personal success. By developing strong reading comprehension skills, you can unlock a world of
knowledge and opportunities.
1. Duke, N. K., & Pearson, P. D. (2002). Effective practices for developing reading comprehension. In A. E.
Farstrup & S. J. Samuels (Eds.), What research has to say about reading instruction (3rd ed., pp. 205-242).
Newark, DE: International Reading Association. [2] This article provides a comprehensive overview of
effective practices for developing reading comprehension, drawing on a wide range of research.

2. Pressley, M. (2002). Comprehension strategies instruction: A turn-of-the-century status report. In C.


Block & M. Pressley (Eds.), Comprehension instruction: Research-based best practices (pp. 11–27). New
York: Guilford. [3] This chapter provides a detailed review of research on comprehension strategies
instruction, highlighting key findings and areas for future research.

3. Harvey, S., & Goudvis, A. (2007). Strategies that work: Teaching comprehension for understanding and
engagement. Stenhouse Publishers. [3] This book provides a practical guide for teachers on how to
implement effective comprehension strategies in the classroom.

4. National Reading Panel. (2000). Report of the National Reading Panel, Washington, DC: Government
Printing Office. Retrieved September 5, 2014, from
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/nrp/documents/ch4-ii.pdf [3] This landmark report
provides a comprehensive review of research on reading comprehension, including evidence-based
practices for teaching reading comprehension.

5. Winch, G., Johnston, R. R., March, P., Ljungdahl, L., & Holliday, M. (2010). Literacy: Reading, writing &
children’s literature (4th ed.). South Melbourne, Australia: Oxford University Press. [2] This book offers a
comprehensive overview of literacy development, including a detailed discussion of reading
comprehension and its development.

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