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Reading Comprehension

A lot of kids hate reading because they've never mastered comprehension. Comprehension, after all, is the purpose of reading—without it, reading is just staring at pages. Which is what a lot of kids do, which is why a lot of kids have trouble learning, which is why a lot of kids hate school, etc. It's a vicious cycle easily avoided by taking enough time to impart a basic skill that lasts all the way into adulthood and "real life."

Reading comprehension begins simply enough with learning to read. Kids learn to comprehend (make sense of) the words on a page in order to get meaning from the text. (This assumes all texts contain meaning, a point postmodernists or anyone who reads Facebook posts would argue.) At this stage, "getting meaning from a text" simply means "understanding the basic story."

Eventually students should be able to read between the lines of a text, understand concepts contained in a text (in other words, go beyond face-value), make connections between ideas within a text, and ultimately make connections between ideas in different texts. This level of reading can never occur, however, unless kids are first taught the basic principles of comprehension, like identifying the narrator, describing events in a story, and remembering characters' names.

There are a number of skills that contribute to proficient reading comprehension. Some of the most important include:

  • word analysis, recognition and meaning (phonemic awareness, decoding, etc.)
  • fluency (automaticity)
  • detecting the sequence of meaning/ideas
  • identifying facts
  • identifying the main idea
  • making inferences

A clear progression of abilities emerges in this list, all of them centered around the meaning of a given text. In some ways, what's really at stake is the development of a child's critical thinking skills, which a program like Reading Detective will particularly address. The critical thinking aspect of reading comprehension also brings to mind the Classical education trivium: grammar, logic and rhetoric, in that order.

It's a common misconception that reading comprehension is best taught with a workbook. That may well be true in some cases, but there are plenty of alternatives that are just as effective. Reading comprehension can be as simple as parents discussing reading assignments with their children, and in fact this is often the best option. The Teaching the Classics course operates on this model, and while the focus is more on literary analysis, students are introduced to the fundamentals of comprehension.

Other programs focus on vocabulary expansion (Megawords) or content retention (Beyond the Code) and follow a workbook model. Literature guides often focus primarily on comprehension (as opposed to analysis), and the Progeny Press, Veritas, and Memoria Press guides based on classic children's literature are a great place to start. A Beka Read & Think Worksheets are popular, but only available used from Exodus Books.

Whatever system you choose for teaching your kids reading comprehension, remember that learning and communication are predicated on the student's ability to recall and reiterate information and ideas. The ability to read and understand is really the foundation of any good education, and therefore one you can't afford to neglect in the instruction of your children.

Here is a quick summary of the Reading Comprehension curricula we offer, in alphabetical order:

Beyond the Code Grades 1-4

Meant to work with Explode the Code, these four books are designed to help beginning readers apply their new skills toward greater comprehension, and reinforce key phonics concepts through lighthearted stories. Students read the stories and answer questions that help them remember the content and make deductions not explicitly addressed in the text. Goofy, slightly bizarre line drawings add a fun element to the stories, and the questions are silly enough to keep most kids interested.

Core Skills: Reading Comprehension Grades 1-8

Designed to develop and reinforce reading comprehension skills, these practice pages encourage students to read actively. The passages feature situtations to which students can often relate and the exercises following each selection cover all aspects of reading comprehension, challenging students to apply these skills in context. Also preps students for test-taking. Please note that these are secular options.

EDCON Classics Grades 1-9

These workbooks contain heavily adaptated versions of classics, with comprehension questions, vocabulary words, and various other activities geared for each section, along with built-in answer keys. We are not that impressed with the series, as we think it is far better for students to read the original books when they are ready for them, but they do work as a comprehension course. We don't carry these new, but generally purchase them used when we see them.

Evan-Moor Reading Comprehension Grades K-8

Designed to help students understand what they read and be able to think carefully about it, Evan-Moor's books are intuitive and simple to use for both kids and teachers. Actually several different series with unique emphases, none of these are sufficient (or designed) as a complete reading or comprehension course, but all introduce important aspects of reading comprehension and their attendant skills.

Megawords Grades 4-10

As students begin reading to learn, they start encountering larger, more complicated—and usually multisyllabic—words. As these are the primary sources of content-specific knowledge, students need to be equipped to decode them. This is the premise behind Megawords, a phonics-based spelling and vocabulary course. As students learn to spell larger words properly, they also learn to understand their meaning and thereby improve reading speed and efficiency.

Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Grades 1-11

This is a good group of books, easy to use for both students and teachers, and overall quite effective. These are consumable worktexts, though the written answer questions are to be completed on a separate piece of paper.  Both passages and questions are challenging, preparing students for the harder work of literary analysis later on.

Reading Detective Grades K-8

Instead of asking questions that can easily be answered simply by skimming the text, the questions in these books focus on more challenging reading concepts, helping children learn to draw inferences, make conclusions, determine cause-and-effect, and use context clues to define unknown words. As a result, they are especially effective at developing analysis, synthesis, and vocabulary skills children need for exceptional reading comprehension.

Spectrum Reading Grades K-6

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Beginning Reasoning & Reading
by Joanne Carlisle
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
in EPS Reasoning & Reading (Location: REACOM-EPS)
$23.49
Beginning Reasoning & Reading - Teacher's Guide / Answer Key
by Joanne Carlisle
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
in EPS Reasoning & Reading (Location: REACOM-EPS)
$23.89
Beyond the Code Book 1
by Nancy Hall
from Educators Publishing Service
for 1st-3rd grade
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$13.49
Beyond the Code Book 2
by Nancy Hall
from Educators Publishing Service
for 1st-3rd grade
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$13.49 $9.50 (1 in stock)
Beyond the Code Book 3
by Nancy Hall
from Educators Publishing Service
for 2nd-4th grade
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$13.49
Beyond the Code Book 4
by Nancy Hall
from Educators Publishing Service
for 2nd-4th grade
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$13.49
Early Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book A
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 1st-2nd grade
$16.99
Early Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book B
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 2nd-3rd grade
$16.99
Early Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book C
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
$16.99
Early Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book D
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th grade
$16.99
Megawords 1
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
3rd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$20.49
Megawords 1 - Teacher's Guide and Answer Key
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
3rd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$35.99
Megawords 1 - Teacher's Guide and Answer Key (old)
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
$29.00
Megawords 2
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
3rd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 7th-9th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$20.49
Megawords 2 (old)
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 7th-9th grade
$18.99
Megawords 2 - set (old)
2nd Ed from Educators Publishing Service
for 5th-6th grade
$46.00
Megawords 2 - Teacher's Guide and Answer Key
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
3rd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 5th-6th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$35.99
Megawords 3
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
3rd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 6th-7th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$20.49
Megawords 3 - set (old)
2nd Ed from Educators Publishing Service
for 6th-7th grade
$46.00
Megawords 3 - Teacher's Guide and Answer Key
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
3rd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$35.99
Megawords 4
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
3rd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$20.49
Megawords 4 - set (old)
2nd Ed from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
$46.00
Megawords 4 - Teacher's Guide and Answer Key
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
3rd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$35.99
Megawords 5
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
3rd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$20.49
Megawords 5 - set (old)
2nd Ed from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
$46.00
Megawords 5 - Teacher's Guide and Answer Key
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
3rd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$35.99
Megawords 6
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
3rd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$20.49
Megawords 6 - set (old)
2nd Ed from Educators Publishing Service
$46.00
Megawords 6 - Teacher's Guide and Answer Key
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
3rd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$35.99
Megawords 7
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
3rd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$20.49
Megawords 7 - set (old)
2nd Ed from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
$46.00
Megawords 7 - Teacher's Guide and Answer Key
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
3rd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$35.99
Megawords 8
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
3rd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$20.49
Megawords 8 - set (old)
2nd Ed from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
$46.00
Megawords 8 - Teacher's Guide and Answer Key
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
3rd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$35.99
More Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Level 1
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 8th-9th grade
$17.99
More Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Level 1 - Answer Key
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 8th-9th grade
$7.49 $2.00 (1 in stock)
More Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Level 2
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 9th grade
$17.99
More Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Level 2 - Answer Key
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 9th grade
$7.49
More Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Level 3
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 10th grade
$17.99
More Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Level 3 - Answer Key
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 10th grade
$7.49
More Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Level 4
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 10th-11th grade
$17.99
More Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Level 4 - Answer Key
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 10th-11th grade
$7.49
PAF Stepping Up in Reading 1
by Eileen Perlman, Phyllis Bertin
from Educators Publishing Service
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in EPS Reasoning & Reading (Location: REACOM-EPS)
$20.99
PAF Stepping Up in Reading 2
from Educators Publishing Service
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in EPS Reasoning & Reading (Location: REACOM-EPS)
$20.99
PAF Stepping Up in Reading 3
by Eileen Perlman
from Educators Publishing Service
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in EPS Reasoning & Reading (Location: REACOM-EPS)
$20.99
Painless Reading Comprehension
by Darolyn E. Jones
4th edition from Barron's
for 1st-3rd grade
in Miscellaneous Reading Comprehension (Location: REACOM-MISC)
$16.99
Painless Reading Comprehension (old)
by Darolyn E. Jones
from Barron's
for 1st-3rd grade
in Miscellaneous Reading Comprehension (Location: REACOM-MISC)
$7.99
Read & Understand with Leveled Texts, Grade K
New from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for Kindergarten
in Evan-Moor Reading Comprehension (Location: ZCLE-EM)
$14.00
Readers in Residence Volume 1
by Debra Bell
from Apologia Educational Ministries
for 4th-6th grade
$60.00
Readers in Residence Volume 1 & Answer Key
by Debra Bell
from Apologia Educational Ministries
for 4th-6th grade
$65.00 $45.00 (1 in stock)
Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book 1
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
$17.99
Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book 1 - Answer Key
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
$7.49
Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book 2
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-5th grade
$17.99
Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book 2 - Answer Key
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-5th grade
$7.49
Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book 3
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 5th-6th grade
$17.99
Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book 3 - Answer Key
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 5th-6th grade
$7.49
Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book 4
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 6th-7th grade
$17.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book 4 - Answer Key
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 6th-7th grade
$7.49
Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book 5
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 7th-8th grade
$17.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book 5 - Answer Key
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 7th-8th grade
$7.49
Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book 6
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 8th-9th grade
$17.99
Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book 6 - Answer Key
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 8th-9th grade
$7.49 $2.50 (1 in stock)
Reading Detective A1
from Critical Thinking Books
for 5th-6th grade
in Reading Detective (Location: REACOM-RD)
$25.99
Reading Detective B1
from Critical Thinking Books
for 7th-8th grade
in Reading Detective (Location: REACOM-RD)
$25.99 $16.50 (1 in stock)
Reading Detective Beginning
from Critical Thinking Books
for 3rd-4th grade
in Reading Detective (Location: REACOM-RD)
$25.99
Reading Detective Rx
by Cheryl Block, Christine Broz, Dave White, Margaret Hockett
Grades 6-12+ from Critical Thinking Books
for 6th-12th grade
in Reading Detective (Location: REACOM-RD)
$24.99
Ready Readers - Children's Literature Volume 1
by Missy Andrews
2nd edition from Center for Literary Education
for 1st-6th grade
in Teaching the Classics (Location: LITCUR-TTC)
$29.00 $19.00 (3 in stock)
Ready Readers - Elementary Literature Volume 1
by Missy Andrews
2nd edition from Center for Literary Education
for 3rd-8th grade
in Teaching the Classics (Location: LITCUR-TTC)
$29.00 $19.00 (3 in stock)
Ready Readers - Middle School Literature Volume 1
by Missy Andrews
from Center for Literary Education
for 6th-12th grade
in Teaching the Classics (Location: LITCUR-TTC)
$29.00 $19.00 (2 in stock)
Ready Readers: The Chronicles of Narnia
by Missy Andrews
from Center for Literary Education
for 6th-12th grade
in Teaching the Classics (Location: LITCUR-TTC)
$29.00 $19.00 (2 in stock)
Reasoning & Reading 1
by Joanne Carlisle
from Educators Publishing Service
for 5th-6th grade
in EPS Reasoning & Reading (Location: REACOM-EPS)
$23.49
Reasoning & Reading 1 - Teacher's Guide / Answer Key
by Joanne Carlisle
from Educators Publishing Service
for 5th-6th grade
in EPS Reasoning & Reading (Location: REACOM-EPS)
$23.89
Reasoning & Reading 2
by Joanne Carlisle
from Educators Publishing Service
for 7th-8th grade
in EPS Reasoning & Reading (Location: REACOM-EPS)
$23.49
Reasoning & Reading 2 - Teacher's Guide / Answer Key
by Joane Carlisle
from Educators Publishing Service
for 7th-8th grade
in EPS Reasoning & Reading (Location: REACOM-EPS)
$23.89 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Teaching the Classics - Seminar Package
by Adam & Missy Andrews
2nd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Teaching the Classics (Location: LITCUR-TTC)
$149.00 $104.00 (2 in stock)
Teaching the Classics - Seminar Workbook
by Adam & Missy Andrews
2nd edition from Center for Literary Education
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Teaching the Classics (Location: LITCUR-TTC)
$49.00 $34.00 (2 in stock)
Upper Grammar Literature Collection - Volumes I-V
from Logos School
for 5th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$35.00
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