Comprehension
VC2E4LY09 · Literacy · Reading
use comprehension strategies, such as visualising, predicting, connecting, summarising, monitoring and questioning, to expand topic knowledge and ideas, and begin to evaluate texts to build literal and inferred meanings
1. Learning goal
Use comprehension strategies to understand literal and inferred meaning.
2. What your child needs to know
- Literal meaning is directly stated in the text.
- Inferred meaning is worked out using clues and what you already know.
- Strategies include predicting, visualising, connecting, summarising, monitoring and questioning.
3. Simple explanation
Active readers think while they read. They ask questions, notice clues and check whether the text makes sense.
4. Examples
The text says the gate was locked.
The character may feel trapped because they stare at the locked gate.
5. Worked example
Make an inference
- Find a clue in the text.
- Think about what you already know.
- Put the clue and knowledge together.
- Check that your inference fits the text.
6. Common mistakes
- Guessing without evidence.
- Writing a summary that is too long.
- Ignoring confusion instead of monitoring understanding.
7. Parent teaching tips
- Pause during reading and ask, 'What are you picturing?'
- Use sticky notes for questions and predictions.
8. Quick practice
What is an inference?
Answer: An idea worked out from clues and knowledge.
It is not stated directly but must fit the evidence.
Give one comprehension strategy.
Answer: Summarising.
Summarising helps identify the most important ideas.
9. Extension challenge
Read a page and write one literal question, one inference and one summary sentence.