Understanding Reading Comprehension
Processes and Practices
- Wayne Tennent - Brunel University, UK
Can baboons read? That is the thought-provoking question that opens this wonderfully accessible book for trainee and practising primary school teachers to fully understand the process of reading comprehension. Comprehension is an essential component of learning to read and a successful teacher of reading will have a portfolio of different strategies and approaches that take in to account that children learn to read in different ways. This book supports the development of student and practising teachers’ subject knowledge by providing detailed guidance in to the reading comprehension process, along with practical strategies and lesson ideas for use in the classroom. Drawing from educational and psychological research, coverage includes:
- School-based activities in every chapter
- An in-depth focus on the inference making process
- The role of vocabulary and syntax in comprehension
- Cognitive and meta-cognitive processes including the use of memory
- Advice on developing effective classroom talk with different groups of children
- Using different text genres and selecting texts
'Much attention has been placed on the decoding aspect of reading and far less on the hugely complex twin process of comprehending texts. Wayne Tennent’s scholarly but accessible book helps to redress the imbalance. The author explains the key issues and offers practical guidance on how teachers can best support children to fully comprehend what they read. The book is timely and will become essential reading for all primary teachers.'
'Comprehensive, authoritative and timely, this book is informed by thorough analysis of research in the field and provides an insightful and invaluable guide to the teaching of reading comprehension. This is an essential resource for training and practising teachers, teacher educators and researchers.'
This book addresses the teaching of reading comprehension from a pedagogically informed position. It provides a detailed and comprehensive analysis of historical, international and current research into the teaching of reading comprehension and is illuminated by the author’s own extensive experience of working and researching with children.
Excellent, concise and practical guide.
This is a very interesting book exploring the processes learners go through as they make sense of what they read. In the second half, the author suggests ways of teaching comprehension too. This is a useful text for practising teachers seeking to enhance their skills and understanding of the reading and sense-making process.
Good insights provided into the complexities of this field.
provides a good overview on the topic
Extremely interesting text discussing the types of comprehension that occur within children's development and ways in which these can be integrated into the curriculum. Easy read, not overly technical, but clear links between theory and practice.
Good use of theory, research and practice to assist students and teachers to understand reading comprehension.
I will certainly refer to this book extensively during this module.
