Let’s face it – reading can be a tricky business. We might even be a little intimidated by it at times. What are all these words doing here? What are they trying to tell me? Why are some stories so much easier to understand than others?
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These are all common questions that teachers, parents, and students alike wrestle with. But there’s a secret – and it all comes down to understanding reading comprehension. In Let’s Read, a foundational curriculum designed to help young students become skilled readers, Unit 3 Session 3 takes a deep dive into the power of reading comprehension, providing teachers with essential tools to help their students become successful lifelong readers.
Breaking Down the Barriers to Comprehension
The beauty of the LETRS program is that it never assumes that we all understand what we are trying to teach. We all know that reading ability is built layer by layer, and comprehension is no exception! So, let’s take a moment to break down some of the key concepts that are covered within Let’s Read, Unit 3 Session 3.
The Four Layers of Reading Comprehension
First, we have to remember that reading comprehension is NOT just about knowing the meaning of every single word! Reading comprehension is about understanding what the writer intended to communicate to the reader.
Let’s consider this analogy: Think about the way we talk to our friends and family. We don’t just blurt out random words without any context. We use different tones of voice, gestures, and nonverbal cues to communicate a broader meaning. The same thing goes for reading.
The LETRS program introduces students not just to the four layers of reading comprehension, but to the strategies that help readers unlock the meaning that writers are trying to convey:
Layer 1 : Literal Comprehension
This is the very bottom layer, where the reader is able to recognize words and understand the literal meaning of the text. It’s like the foundation of a house; we have to make sure this layer is strong before we build higher. Think of this layer as decoding the text.
Layer 2: Inferential Comprehension
As a reader grows, they develop inferential comprehension, which means they are able to read between the lines! This means they can infer meaning from the text. This layer relies on the reader’s ability to use background knowledge and experience to make connections with the text.
Layer 3: Critical Comprehension
Here is where our readers start to analyze the text. They are looking at the author’s purpose, the author’s perspective, and even questioning the author’s biases. This layer is all about critical thinking skills that allow the reader to analyze the text and form their own interpretation.
Layer 4: Creative Comprehension
The top layer! In this stage, readers are engaging with the text on a deep level, allowing themselves to connect with the characters, the setting, and the story itself. The reader might be drawing on their own personal experiences to make sense of the text, or perhaps even envisioning themselves within the story. This layer is all about personal response and engagement with the text.
Essential Strategies for Building Comprehension
Now that we have a better grasp of the layers of reading comprehension, let’s look at some of the key strategies that LETRS Unit 3 Session 3 presents to help students move beyond the literal level of comprehension.
1. Active Reading: This is all about engaging with the text. While reading, students might ask themselves questions about what they are reading, make predictions, or even summarize important information. Active reading keeps students engaged with the text and helps them to stay attentive to the author’s message.
2. Visualizing: This strategy involves picturing the scene in your mind’s eye. Students can create mental pictures of characters, settings, and events. Visualizing helps students to engage with the text on a deeper level and make connections between the words on the page and the world around them.
3. Making Connections: This is where students connect the text to their own personal experiences, to other texts they have read, or to the world around them. This strategy allows students to engage with the text in a personal way and make sense of the information within the story.
4. Summarizing: Summarizing helps students to distill the main ideas of the text. They can use strategies such as note-taking or graphic organizers to summarize the main points and identify the most important information.
5. Asking Questions: Asking questions is a powerful strategy for comprehension. Students can ask questions about the text as they read. This keeps them engaged with the text and helps them to make sense of unfamiliar concepts or ideas.
6. Inferencing: We already discussed inferential comprehension, but how do we help students develop this crucial skill? In LETRS Unit 3 Session 3, teachers are taught how to use a variety of activities that encourage students to predict what might happen next, or to identify the unstated meaning behind certain words and phrases.
7. Making Predictions: Predictions are closely linked to inferencing. Students are encouraged to make guesses about what will happen next in the story, which helps to keep them engaged and eager to see how the story unfolds.
8. Monitoring Comprehension: The beauty of reading is that we can always go back and reread something that we find confusing. LETRS Unit 3 Session 3 emphasizes the importance of teaching students how to monitor their own comprehension. For example, a student might ask themselves a question like “Do I understand this text?” If the answer is no, they can use a variety of strategies to help them make sense of the text.
9. Identifying the Author’s Purpose: This is a critical component of critical comprehension. Students learn to understand that authors write to entertain, to inform, or to persuade. By identifying the author’s purpose, students have a better understanding of what message the author is trying to convey.
10. Analyzing the Text Structure: The LETRS program emphasizes the importance of teaching students how to analyze the structure of a text. This might include identifying the main idea, the supporting details, or even the type of genre of the text. By understanding how the text is organized, students can better understand the message the author is trying to convey.
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Letrs Unit 3 Session 3 Check For Understanding
LETRS: A Powerful Resource for Teachers and Students
LETRS Unit 3 Session 3 is packed with powerful strategies and resources that help teachers become more confident in their role as reading experts. With this knowledge and these tools, we empower teachers to lead their students on a journey to understanding the wonderful world of reading.
But the most important takeaway from Let’s Read Unit 3 Session 3 is that the key to reading comprehension does not lie in a single magic formula. Real, lasting reading fluency and comprehension develop through a combination of strategies, personalized attention, and a love of literature.
So, let’s keep reading, keep exploring, and keep learning. Let the magic of reading take us on an adventure!
