One Simple Skill to Increase Reading Comprehension

Psst.

Do you want to know the secret to good reading comprehension?

Great! I'll tell you...

Are you ready?

Here it comes:

It's making inferences.

And actually, it's not a big secret. But it's the skill I see lacking most in kids who are trying to improve their understanding of text, as well as their reading comprehension grades and exam scores. 

Some learners are born with the gift of "reading between the lines." They are able to take the clue words and phrases that an author uses to formulate an educated guess about what the author is implying but not stating directly. Others--even smart, hardworking kids--aren't so lucky. And I find that it isn't always a skill that is taught directly to students.

But do want to hear the good news? EVERYONE can learn how to make inferences. 

Ask yourself this: does that houseplant on your windowsill have roots down inside the dirt in its pot? Of course it has roots, right? How do you know it has roots if you can't actually see the roots? You know because you made an inference. You combined what you see (a living houseplant that needs water and sunlight to grow) with what you already know (plants have roots), and there you go! You made an inference.

If your kiddo needs help learning this essential skill, please feel free to reach out! I have lots of tricks up my sleeve that can help every reader become an expert at making inferences.