Reading Comprehension Strategies for ELLs

English: Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension is a crucial skill for English language learners (ELLs) and native speakers alike. It involves understanding the meaning of a text, which can be explicitly stated or inferred from the context. This article will focus on various aspects of reading comprehension, including strategies for improving this skill and the importance of explicit instruction for ELLs.

Importance of Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension is essential for ELLs as it directly affects their ability to understand and master science, math, or social studies concepts in their school subjects. Moreover, a strong reading comprehension skill is vital for personal and professional growth, as it enables individuals to:

• Summarize information from various sources
• Sequence events in a logical order
• Infer meaning from texts
• Compare and contrast different ideas
• Draw conclusions based on the text

Strategies for Improving Reading Comprehension

To enhance reading comprehension skills, the following strategies can be employed:

1. Explicit instruction: ELLs benefit from explicit instruction on comprehension skills, along with other skills.
2. Text features: Teach students to use text features such as titles, headings, bold print, captions, sidebars, maps, graphs, pictures, and bullet points to summarize information.
3. Retelling: Encourage students to summarize what they read, including only important information and leaving out less important details.
4. Questioning: After reading, ask students questions based on the literal, interpretive, and applied levels to assess their comprehension.
5. Building background knowledge: Expand students' cultural literacy by exposing them to a variety of topics and interests, which can help them better understand the content they read.
6. Practice: Encourage students to practice reading comprehension skills by engaging with high-interest books and discussing their understanding with peers or teachers.
7. Teaching comprehension strategies: Provide students with conscious plans or sets of steps to make sense of text, which can help them better understand the content.

The Science of Reading Comprehension Instruction

Research on reading comprehension processes has revealed several key understandings, such as the importance of drawing on both classic and contemporary research to inform instructional practices. By understanding these processes, educators can better support students in developing their reading comprehension skills.

In conclusion, reading comprehension is a vital skill that can be improved through explicit instruction, the use of text features, retelling, questioning, building background knowledge, and practicing. By implementing these strategies, students can enhance their ability to understand and interpret text, leading to better academic and professional outcomes.