Chapter pupils’ reading skills

CONCLUSION
I learned a lot during my course work on this topic. So I came up with ideas, and to see them flush it out, it's really fun. For example: The two main components of reading comprehension are vocabulary knowledge and text comprehension. Both of these skills combine to help students get the most out of a text. 
Vocabulary knowledge
Vocabulary knowledge is where reading comprehension starts. Students with good vocabulary strategies understand what words mean and have the background knowledge to understand a given text. 
It also includes strategies for using context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words. The reading comprehension process is over before it begins if students don’t have solid vocabulary knowledge or the ability to learn new words.
Text comprehension
Text comprehension is a big-picture look at what, exactly, a text means. It helps students interact with a text to understand what’s being said and what they need to learn from it.
When students have good text comprehension skills, they can answer questions about what the author is saying, summarize the passage and connect information between texts or prior knowledge. 
In short, it helps them move beyond literal comprehension and into higher levels of thinking.
Whether you’re teaching high school or elementary school, it’s never too late to use reading comprehension strategies to improve understanding, boost retention and make connections. Every student is different, so adjust your teaching methods accordingly!
Some of the most effective reading comprehension strategies include:
Build on existing knowledge
One of the biggest barriers to reading comprehension is a lack of background knowledge. 
If you’re reading a text about astronomy, for example, ask students to record or explain what they already know about the solar system. For easy insights, have students answer quick questions or fill out a KWL (Know, Want to Know, Learned) chart and share the results. 
Make sure all students understand key terms and ideas before you read the text, so everyone starts on the same page (literally). This helps students draw inferences and make connections between the text and things they already know, leveling the playing field when it comes to prior knowledge. 
Identify and summarize key ideas
After students read, summarizing a text can help them pull out main points and absorb more information. 
As you introduce summarization, guide students through with leading questions and a specific structure — length, key points, etc. Use the “I do, we do, you do” format to model good summarization techniques. 
As you model the practice, teach students how to:
Separate facts from opinions
Find key ideas amid extra information
Identify important words and phrases
Look up vocabulary they don’t understand
Teaching students how to do this consciously helps train their brains to start summarizing automatically, leading to better reading comprehension overall.
Use online resources
Thanks to the internet, reading doesn't just happen IRL — it's online, too! There are lots of resources you can use in your classroom to engage kids with different interests as they practice their reading comprehension.
Prodigy English is a brand-new adventure that introduces kids to a world filled with adventures, wishes and more ways to love reading.
Its game-based platform encourages students to answer curriculum-aligned reading and language questions to get more energy. Once players are energized, they can gather resources from an ever-growing world, craft items, earn coins and build their very own village.
As they play, you'll be able to track their progress and achievement. Sign up for a free teacher account today!
To help students build a picture in their minds of what they’re reading, use visual aids and visualization techniques. 
Start by reading aloud and asking students to try and picture what’s happening in their heads. After, use writing prompts like:
What colors did you see the most?
What do you think the setting looked like?
How would you describe the main character?
What sounds do you think you would hear in the world of the story?
Have students draw out a scene, character or story for even more understanding. They can make a family tree of the characters or fun notes to help them remember the key points in the story!
Anchor charts, word walls or picture books can also help reinforce key concepts for your students. When they’re able to visualize the story or information they’re reading, they’re more likely to retain key information.
Develop vocabulary skills

SUMMARY
Vocabulary is an important part of understanding a text and is vital for reading ease and fluency. Vocabulary teaching strategies can help students build the tools to understand new words on their own. 

To help students learn and remember new words, try:
Making a word wall in your classroom
Pairing new words with physical actions
Creating graphic organizers that help relate known words to new ones
Read-aloud strategies can also help you model the process of learning new words for students. Show them how to use context clues to find meaning, and have them make a vocabulary list of all the new words they know or want to learn. 
6. Implement thinking strategies
To encourage students to engage critically with a text, ask questions about:
Where they can spot bias in the material
Why the author chose a particular genre or style
What they think happened before or after the story
Why characters responded to situations the way they did
These questions get students thinking about the deeper meaning in a text and help them use critical thinking skills as they look for key points. Encourage students to ask clarifying questions when they don’t know what the text is saying, or build mind maps to draw connections between ideas and prior knowledge.
7. Create question and answer scenarios
uestioning students on different aspects of the text helps them examine it with fresh eyes and find new ways of interpreting it. 
Use questions that challenge students to find the answers:
In several different parts of the text
On their own, using background knowledge
In their own opinions and responses to the text
Ask students questions to clarify meaning, help them understand characters better, make predictions or help them understand the author’s intent. 
Whether you’re answering these questions in a group or individually, they’ll help students make a habit of asking questions and using critical thinking skills. After all, the magic happens when students start thinking beyond the page!