It is essential that children comprehend what they read.  When you read with your child, there are some things you can do to help them understand what they are reading. 

• Talk about the book before reading.  Look at the cover, read the title and look at a few of the pictures to predict what the story might be about.
• Notice if there are words that might be unfamiliar and talk about what those words mean before reading.
• After reading, encourage your child to tell you what they can remember about the story.  Ask them to start at the beginning and tell you what happened in the story.
• Have your child tell you a favorite part of the story or what it was mostly about.
• Ask if the story reminds them of something that has happened to them or if it reminds them of another story they have read.     

Strategy 1  -  Look at the Picture

Good readers depend on language patterns and pictures.  When your child is in the early stages of reading, encourage your child to look at the picture for clues before reading or when stuck on a tricky word.

 Strategy 2 - Does It Make Sense?

Good readers make sure that what they read is logical and makes sense.  When your child reads, remind them to think about what they are reading and ask themselves, "Does it make sense?" 

Strategy 3 - Get Your Mouth Ready

Good readers use the beginning sound or sounds in unknown words to better predict the correct word.  Have them try a word that makes sense and begins with those sounds. 

Strategy 4 - Does It Look Right?

Good readers check their reading by looking through the entire word from left to right and by asking "Does it look right?"  Children need to begin self-monitoring by checking to make sure what they read matches what they see in the text.

Strategy 5 - Reread

After stopping to figure out an unknown word, good readers go back and reread the sentence to make sure it makes sense and looks right.  Another reason to reread is if you cannot figure out an unknown word and you have read on to see what the rest of the sentence says.  Get your mouth ready for the unknown word, then go back and reread and try a word that makes sense and starts with those sounds.

Strategy 6 - Does It Sound Right?

Good readers self-monitor their reading by asking "Does it sound right?" and "Can we say it that way?"  Help your child notice when what they read doesn't follow accepted language patterns.

Strategy 7 - Look for Chunks

Good readers look for parts of unknown words that are familiar.  For example they might know an in the word fan or igh in the word night.