Reading comprehension conference

Reading Comprehension

Improve this skill and Motivate its use inside the Classroom

Let’s Share Some Experiences

• Why do you think students dislike reading?• What are some of your major concerns

when reading in class?• How about sending a reading assingment?

• Texts grammar and vocabulary. No comprehension.• Primary students: anxiety learning to read in their

first language.• Dictionaries discourage reading.• Young readers need images.

Texts are “old and impractical”.

Vocabulary is not age-appropriate.

Topics should be captivating

Types of Reading• Oral reading or reading aloud

PROSWhen focusing on an idea…..

For pronounciation, fluency or expression…… To identify weaker readers……

CONS Ss speak the words more than understand them.

Easy to get distracted (daydreaming, chatting). Some ss will read ahead (impatient).

• Intensive readingPROS

Develop reading strategies ……..Provide ss with content in English ……Exposition to new language and vocabulary…..

CONS Mainly a classroom activity. Contains a lot of new words. Texts are time-consuming for ss.

• Extensive readingPROS

A.K.A. reading for pleasure….New language in context (articles, stories)…..Fun and relaxing activity……

CONSTopics may be boring or not for all ss.It needs a lot of classroom time.Self-discipline is a must but it doesn´t

happen all the time.

Reading Strategy no. 1• Skimming

Identify the content of a textNo need to read slowly or carefully.

Reading Strategy no. 2

• Scanning

Read for specific informationIgnore the other content

Reading Strategy no. 3

• Reading for Details

We need to understand everything in a text.For complex topics.

Suggestions for Selecting a Reading Text

• Texts should have relevant and interesting information.• Texts should use mostly familiar language.• The length of the texts must be age- appropriate.• There should be a proportionate number of

comprehension questions for the length of the text.• Ideally, there should be pictures to provide context for

the information.• Texts must be legible, not in tiny print or on poor-quality

photocopies.

Stages for Reading

• Stage 1: Pre-reading

Activate ss general knowledge. Introduce the topic and context. Prediction activities (pictures, titles, text

layout). Pre-teaching vocabulary if needed.

Stages for Reading

• Stage 2: While-reading

Look for main ideas and details. Guess the meaning from context. Inferring and predicting the events. Summarize the most important thing that

has happened so far.

Stages for Reading

• Stage 3: Post-reading

Take a closer look at the text. Summarize in own words. Answer clarifying questions. Discussions or debates. Craft activities.

DIORAMAS and BOOK REPORTS

DEBATES and ROLE-PLAYS

Ss read their scripts to produce a polished performance.

Ss predict an opera´s plot and characters based on an image.

READ and CLASSIFY

FOLLOW DIRECTIONS

READ and ANSWER

READING for PHONICS

LETTER JUMBLE

How many words can you form with …. oil on

in

no NOW LET`S PRACTICE….FORM NEW WORDS BY USING THE WORD

CLASSMATES

lion

20 words !!

So remember…

• We have to let students choose some of their readings in order to motivate them.

• Prepare a mini library inside the classroom.

• Don´t ask them to investigate every single word that they do not understand.

• Read with them… be their role model.

richmondforteachers.blogspot.com

Francesca Ayala, MSc. July, 2015.