Teaching reading isn’t an easy task. There is so much strategy that we teachers have to focus on to help our students become strong readers. Plus, reading is a pretty important skill don’t you think? In all seriousness, we have a pretty big job on our hands when it comes to strategies for teaching first-grade reading comprehension. Strategies are key to teaching first graders how to read but also how to think about their reading. Strategies are great, right? But, they’re only great if we give our students the skills to remember and apply these strategies on their own.
Ok, how do I go about this with my students? I always start by teaching my students a strategy that will include an anchor chart every single time. The three most important aspects of teaching reading comprehension are model, guide, and practice. Remember those three words and focus on them. I model by constantly encouraging reading in the classroom, there is so much good that comes from reading to our students. In my opinion, this is the most important strategy for building reading comprehension. When I model, I make sure to engage my students by asking questions to make sure they understand what they are listening to. Check out this blog post where I talk about how I keep my students engaged in reading, engaged readers=better readers.
When it comes to reading with my student’s I use a strategy that allows me to break up the reading in a way that my students are able to comprehend what they are listening to and I encourage them to add this to their reading practices. For example, when we start a book I will read a few pages after the setting and characters are introduced, I will stop and ask a question or two. This gives purpose to our reading, what are we reading and what are we trying to find out? This is a strategy that they can use themselves, it helps them slow down and comprehend what they are reading.
Anchor charts, graphic organizers, and visuals are all important tactics when it comes to modeling. The more I model, the more engaged and interested they become. When I add in visuals, I can see their light bulbs going off. I model all different types of aspects when it comes to reading, we make predictions, we analyze those predictions and we conclude. I use visuals for character analysis, and I dive into the characters. When I model we talk about cause and effect, why did something happen and what was the end result?
To successfully teach strategies to your students in an effective way, you need to be using resources, and visuals with your students. When you use the right resources, teaching comprehension strategies become a lot less scary. One of the most effective strategies I have found is using reading passages, they are easy to use plus they build up fluency and comprehension. This bundle of passages includes over 130 high-interest passages that will definitely keep your students interested and it includes comprehension questions to ensure your students are not only reading but understanding. I have found that using reading passages is extremely effective, I love that my students are working on the same topic and same comprehension skill but doing it at their own reading level. The aspect of modeling doesn’t have to be solely teacher-guided, I will use these for small groups but also partner reading. Do you use partner reading in your classrooms? I have found that is key for building up that confidence in my first graders. Asking your students to summarize and retell what the passage was about, which is an excellent strategy for articulating their thoughts. I love doing this with reading passages because they are shorter so it’s a bit easier for them to assess their understanding of what they just read. I start with questions that will allow me to gauge if they were able to comprehend what they just read. The reading passages are an excellent starting point and with reading comprehension, we start with small goals.
I love to instill the love for reading into my students, I have a heavy focus on reading in my classroom. I do everything I can to help my first-graders succeed and gain the confidence they need to be successful readers. This takes time, strategy, planning, and lots of modeling but I love seeing how far these strategies take them in their journey to becoming strong confident readers! What are some of your favorite strategies when it comes to reading comprehension? I have linked some of my favorite resources below.
Reading Comprehension Resources
Reading Passages and Questions
Reading Comprehension for First Grade Daily Lesson Plans for Readers Workshop
