Tutors > Tutor Tips > Comprehension

Comprehension

Each of the strategies below helps your learner read a paragraph, figure out how to better understand it and take action to remedy difficulties. Try several suggestions in different strategies until you determine what works best with your student.

• Summarizing
  Ask your learner to:
  
  Read a paragraph.
  Summarize it while scanning it. Summarize it with the book closed.
  
  Read a paragraph.
  Cover it up and write down key words he/she remembers. Summarize from the key words.
  
  Read a paragraph.
  Underline the key words. Use the key words to make one or two sentences.

• Questioning
  Ask you learner to:
  
  Read a paragraph.
  Ask a broad question. Answer the question.
  
  Read a paragraph.
  Ask a question that can be found "in the text." "Find" the answer.
  
  Read a paragraph.
  Ask a question that can be found "in your head." "Figure out" the answer.

• Clarifying
  Ask your learner to:
  
  Read a paragraph.
  Ask if it makes sense. If yes, continue reading. If no, re-read to clarify.
  
  Read a paragraph.
  Thumb up if you understood it; continue reading. Thumb down if you didn't understand it. If it is a problem with a word, figure out the meaning. If it is a problem with the whole thing, re-read it.
  
  Read a paragraph.
  What does it say?
  
  Read a paragraph.
  Tell what it says. Predict what will come next.

• Emotional, Visual and Physical Strategies
  Ask your learner to:
  
  Read a paragraph.
  Tell his/ her personal reaction.
  
  Read a paragraph.
  Draw a graph, chart or picture to depict it.
  
  Read a paragraph.
  Act it out.