Reading words aloud is one thing, but proper comprehension is more complex. Sadly, just 36% of fourth graders and 34% of eighth graders in the U.S. reach proficiency in reading comprehension each year. Lots of kids can sound out words but miss the meaning.

The good news is that reading comprehension can improve with the proper intervention in reading comprehension, which focuses on teaching kids to think critically about the text.

In this post, we’ll share simple, practical ideas to help your child build stronger reading comprehension and enjoy reading more.

Key Takeaways

• Reading comprehension is about truly understanding and thinking about what you read, not just sounding out words.

• Simple, proven strategies like summarizing, questioning, and predicting make reading easier and more enjoyable.

• Connecting new ideas to what kids already know and building vocabulary with games and visuals helps reading stick.

• Personalized practice and helpful feedback boost confidence, turning challenging texts into fun learning experiences.

• Small classes at FunFox with expert teachers provide the support kids need to grow as confident, successful readers.

From Reading to Understanding: Teaching Comprehension Skills

The best way to help kids with reading comprehension is to teach them specific strategies. This means showing them how to summarize, ask and answer questions, make predictions, and picture what they’re reading.

Why teach these strategies? It’s important because kids need to know the tools they can use to understand better what they read. To make this easier, break each strategy down into simple steps.

• Read aloud and think out loud to show how you use each strategy in action.

• Guide kids with plenty of practice opportunities.

• Support them until they can confidently use the strategies on their own.

The result? Kids become active readers who pay attention to their understanding and confidently make sense of the text.

Getting Kids Ready to Read

Before diving into a story or text, it’s great to get kids thinking and curious. This helps their brains get ready to understand and enjoy what comes next.

• Why? Because tapping into what they already know and guessing what’s coming makes reading more fun and meaningful.

• How? Let kids check out the title, pictures, headings, or tricky words first. Chat about what they think the story will be about or what they might learn. Set a clear goal for the reading time.

Getting kids curious and linking what they already know before reading helps set the stage, making the story easier to follow and more fun.

Read: Reading Comprehension Activities for Year 4 Kids

Helping Kids Connect to What They Already Know

Kids understand new concepts much better when they can link them to what they already know. Before reading, it’s a good idea to build a little background so they don’t feel lost.

Here’s how to do it:

• Have a quick chat about the topic to see what they remember or guess.

• Show some pictures or fun videos to give them a sneak peek.

• Tie the topic to things they’ve seen, done, or learned before.

This makes new info less tricky and way easier to get, so reading becomes more fun and valuable for them.

Also read: 5 Simple Steps To Teach Kids To Read

Vocabulary Made Fun and Simple

Knowing lots of words makes reading way easier to understand.

• Why? Because teaching key words, both everyday and subject-specific ones, gets kids ready to engage with the text.

• How? Introduce tricky or important words before reading. Use pictures, examples, and practice to help kids understand the meaning of the words. Go over these words again during and after reading for extra help.

• What’s in it for them? They get better at recognizing and using new words, which makes understanding the whole text a lot easier.

Recommended reading: First 50 Basic Vocabulary Words for Kids to Improve Language Skills.

Practice Together to Get It Right

Getting good at reading takes practice, and it’s way easier when someone’s there to help. Kids often struggle to grasp main ideas or lose focus when reading alone, which is why guided practice with feedback makes such a big difference.

Here’s what teachers do:

1. They read with the kids and talk through how they use reading tricks as they go.

2. They use “Pause, Prompt, Praise” — that means they pause so kids can think, give hints if needed, and cheer them on when they do well.

3. As kids get the hang of it, teachers step back and let them try things on their own.

This kind of help builds kids’ confidence, keeps them using the right strategies, and makes reading fun instead of frustrating. Before you know it, they’re handling tricky books like champs!

Must read: The Big Six of Reading Explained.

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Visual Organizers Make Reading Way Easier

Reading can get confusing when there’s a ton to take in. Have you ever seen your child get overwhelmed by all the details? Visual organizers break it down into easy-to-understand pictures or charts, helping kids grasp the concept more easily.

Cool Tools to Try
Kids can use mind maps to link ideas, storyboards to follow what happens in a story, or concept charts to show how things connect.

An Easy Example
Say you’re reading a space adventure. You can create a storyboard that highlights each big moment, from liftoff to landing. It’s a fun way to remember what happened and when.

These tools make tricky ideas easier to understand, help kids remember stuff better, and even make reading more creative and fun.

Helping Kids Become Thinking Champions

It’s awesome when kids start noticing how they think while reading, it makes them reading superheroes!

• What makes it fun: They learn to catch when things don’t quite add up and get to try simple tricks to fix it.

• How you can join in: Talk out loud about checking if the story makes sense and admit when things are a bit tricky. Then show them cool ways to figure it out, like rereading or asking questions like a detective.

• The win: Kids become self-aware readers who know how to solve reading puzzles all by themselves, like real pros!

Also Read: Top Reading Challenges Faced by Primary School Students.

Getting Kids to Ask and Answer Questions

Encouraging kids to ask questions while reading keeps them engaged and thinking deeper.

• Teach two types of questions: Literal questions that ask about facts (e.g., “What happened in the story?”) and inferential questions that explore meaning (e.g., “Why did the character do that?”).

• Practice with partners: Have kids team up and take turns asking and answering questions about the text. For example, one kid might ask, “What was the problem in the story?” and their partner could answer, then they switch roles with a “Why do you think that happened?” question.

This back-and-forth questioning builds better understanding, sparks interesting conversations, and helps kids think critically about what they read.

Repeated Reading and Reinforced Reading

Reading a passage several times helps kids become more confident readers. It’s like exercising their reading skills and getting better at tricky words. 

For example, reading a short story about a trip to the zoo several times helps them recognize words faster and enjoy the story more each time.

The goal is to make decoding words easier so that reading flows smoothly. Use short, simple texts, offer gentle corrections, and watch their progress closely.

As kids read faster and make fewer mistakes, they can focus more on understanding the story instead of just sounding out words.

Also Read: Benefits of Reading Aloud for Children. 

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Easy Ways to Help Kids Understand Informational Text

Figuring out how informational text is put together can make it way easier for kids to understand what they’re reading.

• Spot the Pattern: Teach them to recognize layouts like cause and effect, problem and solution, or comparisons to organize information better.

• Find the Big Idea: Help kids pick out main points and summarize in their own words.

• Use K-W-L Charts: Have them list what they know, want to learn, and what they have Learned to stay engaged.

• Try Graphic Organizers: Use Venn diagrams, flowcharts, or webs to visualize connections and ideas.

When kids feel supported and successful, they naturally want to keep improving and exploring new texts.

How FunFox Builds Strong Readers

At FunFox, we help kids improve their reading by:

• Matching reading levels to fit each child.

• Using repeated reading with helpful feedback.

• Tracking progress and setting goals.

• Combining fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension skills in lessons.

We use these proven strategies in small online classes led by expert teachers. With personalized attention, engaging materials, and interactive tools, kids build strong comprehension skills and grow confident with every text.

Ready to see your child enjoy reading and feel confident?

Explore the FunFox Readers Club, where reading becomes an adventure. Book a free trial lesson today and watch your child’s love for reading grow!

FAQs

1. What age group can benefit from reading comprehension intervention?

Kids of all ages, from early readers to older students, can benefit from targeted reading comprehension support tailored to their level.

2. How often should kids practice reading to improve comprehension?

Regular daily practice, even just 20-30 minutes, helps reinforce skills and build confidence over time.

3. What is “thinking aloud,” and how does it help with reading?

Thinking aloud means verbalizing the thought process while reading, which models comprehension strategies and helps kids understand how to approach text.

4. How do K-W-L charts support reading comprehension?

K-W-L charts help kids organize what they know, what they want to learn, and what they have Learned, keeping them engaged and focused during reading.

5. Can reading comprehension skills help in other subjects?

Yes, strong reading comprehension improves learning across subjects by helping kids better understand textbooks, instructions, and questions.