Reading Strategies for Children

Key Strategies That Help Children Read Better

Preview the Text

If you didn't know, all of those pictures, graphics, chapter titles and bold-faced headings are placed in books to give you information. Taking a look at those items before you start reading will give you a good idea of what the short story, novel or article is about. Armed with that knowledge, you'll generally be able to focus on the information better and be aware of where the content is heading.

Use Prior Knowledge

Another good idea is to use what you already know about the topics or issues found in the material you're reading. Making personal connections can make it more interesting for you, and when you're interested, you usually comprehend better. In addition, if you have personal knowledge of the subject, it can help you understand some of the difficult parts you run into.

Look Up the Definitions of Unfamiliar Words

Don't just skip over those challenging words if you know you don't understand them. It is a good idea to try to use clues from the story to figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words. However, if that doesn't work, take the time to look up the definitions in a dictionary. Sometimes, one word can play a big role in your overall understanding of what you're reading. If you skip the word or use the wrong meaning, you may get confused later. Furthermore, you may see those new words later in other books that you read, so learning them may help you in future reading material.

Visualize What You're Reading

Sometimes, there are actual pictures for you to look at depending on what you are reading, but the words also create pictures for you to form in your mind. Like using prior knowledge, when you can see what's happening, the story becomes more real and interesting. Visualizing also gets you actively engaged in the material and can help you recall and understand better.

Reread the Text

Reading something once may be enough sometimes, but reading it a second time or more is usually even better. When you read something for the first time, you usually miss details because you're dealing with issues like challenging vocabulary and unfamiliar concepts. When you reread the material, you've usually dealt with those earlier problems already, and you're able to catch important things you missed during the first read and have clearer comprehension of the information.