Reading Comprehension Skills
– Adding Meaning to Reading
Reading Comprehension Skills — From Passive to Active
Reading comprehension skills allow readers to move from elementary reading to effective reading. Reading begins as an exercise in decoding letters and sounding out words. This is passive reading, where we focus on memorizing patterns and practicing fluency. The bridge from passive to active reading requires reading comprehension skills.
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand what we read — where words have context and texts have meaning. Reading comprehension skills allow us to read proficiently, learn effectively, problem-solve, strategize, conceptualize, and succeed in life. Without reading comprehension skills, many students are left behind.
Reading Comprehension Skills — The Cognitive Foundation
Reading comprehension skills are based on earlier stages of reading development, including oral reading and reading speed/fluency. Without developing these earlier reading skills, students must continually focus on decoding letters and words, rather than pursuing the progression to meaning and understanding.
Numerous studies show that the key to developing proficient reading skills in the early years of education is an even earlier foundation in underlying cognitive skills. Therefore, strong reading comprehension skills are now viewed as totally dependant on the strength of the cognitive foundation established in the early years. These same studies reveal that approximately 80% of students testing low in reading comprehension skills also have weak underlying cognitive skills such as auditory and visual processing. Thus, for many struggling students, successful reading comprehension means a return to the fundamental tools that support the cognitive foundation.
At LearningRx, we know that building the cognitive foundation must start with identifying and strengthening the underlying cognitive components — the building blocks for learning success. A weakness in any core process (building block) can present a major obstacle for developing future reading skills such as fluency and comprehension. At LearningRx, our programs target and strengthen cognitive weaknesses by training specific processing skills in intense, one-on-one, mentoring relationships with our students. We now have nearly two decades of dramaticsuccess under our belts!
Reading Comprehension Skills — Attack Weak Cognitive Tools in A Powerful Way
Reading comprehension skills are necessary for meaningful and effective reading. Early reading is grounded in strong cognitive skills such as attention, auditory analysis, sound blending, sound segmenting, memory, processing speed, and visualization. Therefore, the key to improving reading comprehension skills is to attack weak cognitive skills at the foundational level. At LearningRx, that’s what we do!
When you’re ready to strengthen your child’s reading comprehension skills in a powerful way, please contact a LearningRx Center near you. You’ll learn everything you need to know about cognitive skills assessment and training and how our programs can improve your student’s life for a lifetime!