How is word reading related to reading comprehension?
Reading is the product of two components: word recognition and language comprehension. Both are essential for reading comprehension to occur.
Good comprehenders can decode printed words accurately, efficiently and fluently. Children who struggle with word reading, however, will read the text more slowly and may not be able to accurately decode all of the important words. This can lead to significant deficits in reading comprehension. Strong word reading therefore makes a vital contribution to the ease and quality of a child’s reading comprehension.
Related Background Questions
- What is reading comprehension and why is it important?
- What are some of the challenges to good reading comprehension?
- What are the factors associated with good comprehension?
- Why is vocabulary development important for comprehension?
- How can reading comprehension best be taught?
- Does the amount of time children spend reading have an impact on their comprehension skills?
- Is there a difference between reading on screen and reading on paper in terms of comprehension?
- What does the Northern Ireland Curriculum say about comprehension?
- How is reading comprehension assessed in Northern Ireland?