| If you can read every word on a page, are you really | | | | man to step on the surface. |
| reading? Well, maybe and maybe not! | | | | From these clues, you can infer that a man will soon |
| One definition of 'read' is "to utter aloud written matter;" | | | | step on the moon. The first man who did that was Neil |
| if using this definition alone, of course you are reading. | | | | Armstrong. |
| There is another definition, though, which says "to | | | | 3. Predicting Outcomes - If you understand what you |
| understand or interpret." After reading the page, if you | | | | are reading, you will be able to guess what will happen |
| cannot answer questions about the material, you really | | | | next. Reinforce this skill during commercials when you |
| just called out words. Yes, you must know thewords, | | | | are watching TV! |
| but you also have to understand the author's | | | | Example: I took a bath, brushed my teeth, and put on |
| message. THEN, you are truly reading. | | | | my pajamas. My mother came in to read me a story. |
| Reading comprehension includes a number of specific | | | | When she was finished, she kissed me goodnight. |
| skills. When reading with your children, ask questions | | | | You can predict that the child will now go to sleep. |
| that will reinforce these concepts, especially during long | | | | 4. Fact or Opinion - A fact is something you can prove |
| absences from school. Here are a few: | | | | to be true, whether or not you like it, while an opinion is |
| 1. Main Idea - What is the most important thing the | | | | what you think or believe. |
| paragraph, page, chapter, story, article, or cartoon is | | | | Example: I am in the Bank Atlantic Center. Faith Hill and |
| about? When students are first learning this skill, the | | | | Tim McGraw are going to give a concert. They are |
| main idea is usually found in the first sentence; later on, | | | | the best singers of all! |
| it may not be stated at all. The detail sentences tell | | | | The first two sentences are facts but the last is an |
| about the main idea. | | | | opinion. Your opinion does not have to agree with |
| Example: I went to a pet shop. It had food and toys for | | | | anyone else's because it reflects what YOU think. |
| all kinds of pets. The animal sections had birds, fish, and | | | | Clues can be comparison words ending in 'er' (ie: |
| kittens. I wound up buying some cat litter. | | | | prettier) or 'est' (ie: happiest), as well as phrases such |
| In this example, the first sentence tells the main idea | | | | as 'of all' or 'in the whole world.' |
| and the rest of the sentences tell more about what | | | | To review, then, along with knowing words, you must |
| happened at the pet shop. | | | | be able to interpret their meaning in order to read. |
| 2. Inferences - To infer means "to conclude by | | | | Some specific skills that help in comprehension are |
| reasoning from something known or assumed." In other | | | | main idea, inferences, predicting outcomes, and fact or |
| words, use your prior knowledge to figure out | | | | opinion. In a future article, I will write about other |
| something. | | | | reading-comprehension skills. |
| Example: The Eagle has made an historic landing. | | | | I hope these examples are useful and inspire your own |
| There are craters and rocks as far as the eye can | | | | creative thinking. |
| see. Pretty soon, I will don a special suit and be the first | | | | And remember...Reading is FUNdamental! |