The Science of Reading Explained: Comprehension
In The Science of Reading Explained, we unpack the five pillars of this important foundational literacy research model. Here, we focus on helping students make meaning and connections to deepen their comprehension of the text they're reading, and on what effective instruction of this pillar looks like.
What is Comprehension in the Science of Reading?
Comprehension refers to the ability to understand and make meaning from what we read. This goes beyond decoding words to understanding the structure and meaning of sentences and paragraphs, making connections between texts and one's own knowledge and experiences, and thinking critically and analyzing what is being read. Reading comprehension is the bedrock on which a student’s academic success is built, both in secondary and higher education.
To get there, effective comprehension instruction must include explicit teaching of strategies such as predicting, summarizing, and questioning, as well as opportunities for students to engage in meaningful discussions and activities that promote deeper understanding of texts.
According to the National Reading Panel, comprehension can be improved by teaching background knowledge, text vocabulary, comprehension strategies, and by engaging children to read. Edmentum's Exact Path provides support for comprehension instruction by incorporating these research-based strategies.
Engaging Students in Comprehension Strategies
We know that student engagement is a crucial factor in promoting successful learning outcomes. Recognizing the significance of engagement in students' ability to comprehend and retain information, Exact Path has been thoughtfully designed with captivating characters and compelling content to keep students' attention and ignite their passion for learning within a dynamic and stimulating learning environment.
In the K-2 grade levels, Exact Path teaches comprehension strategies through engaging lessons. At the 3-5 grade levels, Exact Path provides students with specific questions and tips for identifying the main idea and key details of the text. These strategies lead to metacognition and can help students improve their comprehension skills. Consider playing an engaging game like What’s the Story with That? After students read a text to further deepen their understanding and promote discussion.
Research-Based Instruction
Exact Path is thoughtfully designed with the latest research on effective reading instruction in mind. This connection to research emphasizes evidence-based practices. By integrating research findings into the program design, Exact Path ensures that teachers and students alike benefit from high-quality instruction that is firmly rooted in scientific principles.
How Exact Path Supports Reading Comprehension
Exact Path provides diagnostic-driven personalized literacy instruction, grounded in the science of reading, to help students build the foundational skills and knowledge they need to become stronger readers. Students strengthen the skills and knowledge they need to make sense of text and think more deeply about what they read.
- Explore: See how Exact Path accelerates student achievement
- Watch: Science of Reading webinar with Reading Is Fundamental
- Read more from this series: The Science of Reading Explained