Reading with comprehension.

The fact that majority of us have been able to read from a young age leads us to overlook the significance of how we read and what we do with that information. Reading with comprehension is something we are taught from a young age but also something that we often forget to
take note of.
Kirsten Deane

Reading with comprehension entails decoding what we read, make connections between what we have read and what we already know, and finally, thinking deeply about what we have read. These three steps might sound simple but the significance of them need to be explored.

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​Decoding can be described as the act of converting a message into a form that is easily understood by us. This can be done in many ways; one being looking up the definition of any word in the text that might stand out as being significant. Once you understand the key word in a sentence, understanding the sentence and text becomes a lot simpler. Decoding a text can also be done by connecting the text to other things that you are already aware of. For example, if a text focuses on the narration of Victorian literature, it helps to look at Victorian literature that you have already read and link the text to your own experience of literature.

Making connections between what we have read and what we already know is a vital step in reading with comprehension (as I have made clear above). When we link a new aspect to one that we are already aware of and already understand, we feel connected to the text more and find ourselves reading more willingly than obligatory. Our brains are wired in a way that allows us to link aspects that seem similar, this makes it easier for our brains to store new information when it is connected to the information that we have already made a place for. 

​Once we have read a text, the real work happens. As readers, it is our responsibility to sit with the text and ponder on what we have just read. Spending time with a text allows you to understand it more deeply and unpack it in a way which leads you to a better understanding. It’s important to make notes and highlight key aspects of the reading you’re doing whilst doing the reading, this makes it ten times easier to sit with the reading once you’re done and actually take the time to understand what you have read. Unpacking the text once you have read it is an important step in this last process. You need to analyse what you have noted as being important in the text to understand the text more thoroughly. Having this comprehension of individual points in the text helps you to tie the text together and understand it as a whole.

Be aware of what you are reading whilst reading it, take your time with the text and do not rush your understanding. Spend time with the text after your first reading and do not be afraid to read it a few more times if you must.