There’s a big difference between Year 2 reading comprehension and Year 6 reading comprehension. But the fact is that each of them is a step on the learning ladder! Let’s delve into the world of words and learn what reading comprehension is and how to improve at it.
Pick a guide below and dive into the wonderful world of reading comprehension!
Similies
Similes compare two different things, usually using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’ to show how they’re similar to each other. Similies are figures of speech that are similar to metaphors.
Metaphors
A metaphor compares two things, but instead of saying they’re similar to each other, it says they’re the same as each other. We might say, ‘studying is a stream’ or ‘she has a heart of gold’.
Main idea
The main idea is the primary takeaway the author wants the reader to leave it. To understand the main idea, you must comprehend the text using context clues. inferencing & more!
Figurative
language
Figurative language helps us to communicate a deeper meaning within our writing. We can also use figurative language to make our words more captivating to our reader.
Point of
view
The point of view in writing is who is telling the story. It refers to the first person (I/we), the second person (you) or the third person (he/she/it/they).
Context
clues
Context clues are when we get to play detective. If you don’t know what a word means, sometimes you can look at the words around it to work it out.
Inferencing
An inference is like a clever guess. You wouldn’t know if something happened if you weren’t there, but you can use clues to work it out. Sometimes we infer the main idea of a text.
Idioms
Idioms are different in all languages. They are well-known sayings or phrases that might sound silly, or not make sense unless you’ve had them explained to you. ‘
Hyperbole
Hyperbole is used to emphasise meaning or bring attention to a point in a piece of writing. Typically via exaggeration, ‘I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!’.
Cause and
effect
In writing, cause and effect is about when one thing makes another happen – and what that might be. ‘I spilt my orange juice over my homework’, so ‘My homework was destroyed!’.
Similes compare two different things, usually using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’ to show how they’re similar to each other. Similies are figures of speech that are similar to metaphors.
Metaphors
A metaphor compares two things, but instead of saying they’re similar to each other, it says they’re the same as each other. We might say, ‘studying is a stream’ or ‘she has a heart of gold’.
Main idea
The main idea is the primary takeaway the author wants the reader to leave it. To understand the main idea, you must comprehend the text using context clues. inferencing & more!
Figurative
language
Figurative language helps us to communicate a deeper meaning within our writing. We can also use figurative language to make our words more captivating to our reader.
Point of
view
The point of view in writing is who is telling the story. It refers to the first person (I/we), the second person (you) or the third person (he/she/it/they).
Context
clues
Context clues are when we get to play detective. If you don’t know what a word means, sometimes you can look at the words around it to work it out.
An inference is like a clever guess. You wouldn’t know if something happened if you weren’t there, but you can use clues to work it out. Sometimes we infer the main idea of a text.
Idioms
Idioms are different in all languages. They are well-known sayings or phrases that might sound silly, or not make sense unless you’ve had them explained to you. ‘
Hyperbole
Hyperbole is used to emphasise meaning or bring attention to a point in a piece of writing. Typically via exaggeration, ‘I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!’.
Cause and
effect
In writing, cause and effect is about when one thing makes another happen – and what that might be. ‘I spilt my orange juice over my homework’, so ‘My homework was destroyed!’.
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand, interpret, and derive meaning from written text. It involves several cognitive processes and skills that work together to allow a reader to grasp the information being communicated. Vocabulary, grammar, figurative language, inferencing, and understanding plot are all key factors of reading comprehension.
Children begin to learn reading comprehension skills early in their education, typically starting in the Reception year (ages 4-5) and continuing throughout their primary and secondary schooling.
Here’s a further breakdown of reading comprehension by age:
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Key Stage 1 (Ages 5-7)
In Years 1 and 2, children continue to build on their phonics knowledge and start reading more complex texts. They begin to develop comprehension skills through:
Key Stage 2 (Ages 7-11)
Reading comprehension in KS2 is further developed and refined. Activities include:
Key Stage 3 and Beyond (Ages 11+)
Reading comprehension skills continue to be a crucial part of the secondary school curriculum, with a focus on more complex and varied texts, including literature, non-fiction, and media texts. Students:
Mastering reading comprehension has more benefits than we could ever possibly list! Firstly, it is great fun when you can read a whole book and understand it by yourself. It also helps your brain work to the best of its ability. Reading comprehension means you learn more about the world, and this means you have more ways you can imagine new thoughts and ideas.
Here are some activities you can use to help you develop strong comprehension skills. Remember, there is a big difference in how you learn between years. Activities should be tailored for the appropriate age group. For example, you can’t use the same content for reading comprehension in Year 3 as for reading comprehension in Year 4.
Everyone has something they can improve with their reading comprehension, even grown-ups! The most important thing you can do to strengthen reading comprehension skills is read, read, and read some more. It’s also important to expand vocabulary and practise summarising, inferencing, and critically thinking about texts.
If you want hands-on help with your reading comprehension, take a look at our English app. It supports students in KS1 and KS2 and is aligned to the national curriculum.
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