Comprehension is known as the very heart and soul of reading. Although many children can read, the act of reading and the act of comprehending what someone is reading are two very different things. Reading comprehension is the ability to read, understand, process, and recall what was just read. The ability to comprehend is a key characteristic of a good reader. Therefore, it is important for both teachers and parents to support their students in understanding what they read.
Many learners particularly struggling readers need help in understanding what they are reading. These kids can read words in a normal way, but they may not know what the words mean. One of the ways in which parents can support their students’ reading comprehension at home is by reading aloud with children. It’s not reading aloud to children but with children. This means that we need to have time to listen and learn with them.
According to Dr. George Jacobs, co-author of Read Aloud Asia, there are many benefits of having an adult, especially parents who read aloud with children. The following are just few of the many benefits we can get from reading aloud.
Benefits of Reading Aloud in Any Language
- Introduces children to books, poems, etc
- Provides a model for pronunciation.
- Develops vocabulary.
- Teaches knowledge of the world and of books
- Builds bonds between the reader and listeners.
- Shows children we care about them.
- Encourages a love for reading silently/aloud.
The following tips for reading aloud with children at home can help us make our reading aloud time more meaningful and enjoyable.
- Choose good stories.
A good story for parents/adults may not be a good story for children. As a parent, we can ask our kids to choose a book or material to read. In this way, we provide an opportunity for them to be an active participant by choosing books they like better or best.
- Practice First.
Many teachers and especially parents feel hesitant to this. Our reading aloud session at home doesn’t need to be perfect. Yet, as parent we read the book first to also make sure it is the right material for our kids. Practice first is an important part of the reading-aloud strategy. In reading aloud, we model how words are read.
- Read with feeling and variety.
Reading stories with emotions can be very helpful for better understanding. We can ask little kids to repeat the words we are reading. They may not understand them, but it is helpful that they know how to say words correctly.
- Invite participation.
We can ask questions like which part of the story do you like best? What do you think will happen? Or recall events that happened in the story.
We can also make connections by asking about their own experiences that relate to the story.
Reading aloud is a journey, not a race. Thus, the longer it takes to finish the story, the better. The book can be a tool to launch a conversation, in any language, mostly about life. As a mother of 4 kids, I know how challenging it is to teach young children to read. But I have witnessed how my kids progress through doing simple reading activities at home. Of course, I give credit to the teachers of my children for being so patient and diligent in teaching them.
By: Joselyn L. Gardoci|Teacher III|Bataan National High School|Balanga City, Bataan
