My 9 nearly 10yr old reads well above her grade level, but Naplan shows she has problems comprehending what she reads. As a result her teachers are pushing books that she feels she does not understand. She use to love reading but is now bulking against it and often refuses to read at all. The way she has expressed it to me is that it's a chore now, and its not 'allowed' to be fun. I'm looking for recommendations on what you liked to read at 10, as well as what your kids enjoy. I've had some luck in introducing her to my favorites. and how can I help with the comprehension part? She is a bit of a perfectionist and I don't like the fact that she feels like she is being forced to read stuff she does not understand...
8 Replies
Let her choose her fun books, but then work on the comprehension separately.
Usually if comprehension is an issue you ask the child to read simpler books, and ask them questions about the story.
There are some good speech therapy tools around this. Yes this is often something worked in with the assistance of a speech therapist, as they often work on literacy too. If you google Main Idea, Getting the Main Idea, you will probably find sone resources.
I'd continue to get her to choose what she wants to read. It's great if you can read ahead so you can have conversations about the story, ask questions etc.
Comprehension is understanding and taking in what you're reading. Whilst reading and comprehension aren't totally unrelated, they are quite different skills.
It sounds like she knows the words but they're going in one ear but out the other so to speak.
I agree with you that reading stuff she's not interested in will not get her engaged and actually wanting to take in what she's reading.
I would suggest encouraging her to slow down, she might be racing through to get it done, therefore she's not giving herself time to take in the concepts.
I would also reccomend getting her to briefly recap what she's just read after each chapter/few pages by encouragement eg. "Sophie is having a great adventure, why don't you tell me more about it". Ask her open ended questions that help prompt her to elaborate.
It may just be that comprehension isn't a strength of hers and there's nothing wrong with that. I am much the same, I'm an avid reader, literacy and all that goes with it always came quite naturally to me. However, I can read 4 pages in a book and remember none of it because I spaced out lol. I'm studying currently and I have to read my coursework in short bursts and take notes because I'd never remember or properly comprehend the dialogue. You just need to find a way that works for her!
As for reading material, I loved Harry potter at 10 (that series probably really cemented my love of reading), anything by Roahld Dahl, The Baby Sitters Club & Baby Sitters Little Sister and Goosebumps (they are quite scary for kids books though). The Just Crazy series by Andy Griffith's. I could go on all day lol but these are probably a good start
Good luck!
I also just thought of another idea!
You could get her to choose some recipes to make and get her to read and explain the instructions to you.
That will help increase her comprehension without being forced to read in the traditional way.
I agree with others, let her choose the books she wants to read. My 9yr old has always read well above her age level, and teachers had the same concerns about her comprehension, so I would just ask her what was happening in the book and if she had trouble then we would skim back through some pages.
Just remember that naplan is just a snippet of where your child is at, it's not to be taken as the be all and end all
Speak to the teachers. Learning is uncomfortable, but you also dont want to break her love of reading. Its a fine balance I hope they understand although sometimes they just want to push the reading levels as high as they can. Do you read at home. Could you read a book together, or have two copies so you read alone and discuss together.
Slowing my age but I used to love Enid Blyton, babysitters club, pippi longstocking etc. I'm a quick reader and don't always read every word and definitely wouldn't have done so as a child but the stories I've suggested are simple enough that you can get the gist without having to really thoroughly read the content.
It's so great that she's reading full stop. At a time where everyone is addicted to screens it's great to hear about someone who loves books
Enid Blyton books are classic!
My grandmother, mother, myself and now my daughter all loved them.
Tell them to back the fuck off! And fuck the stupid NAPLAN results.
Let her read for enjoyment. DO NOT TAKE THE PLEASURE OF READING AWAY FROM HER!!!!
have informal discussions about the books she's reading, or has read. If you read the same book, you can have a little book club and you both discuss the book, easy peasy, you'll know if she's comprehending what she reads without any pressure from overbearing pushy bloody teachers.
Omg I remember years ago hearing a teacher talk about a student in my daughters class, in a catty jealous way, that he didn't comprehend what he read, and yes he too was reading beyond his years. It's like they have to "bring you down a peg or two"