In preparing for the ISAT assessments, this week language groups focused on interpreting what they read. The students read stories similar to passages on the ISAT and discussed how the author used details to convey meaning. (For example, when a writer describes the character's actions, the reader can interpret how the character is feeling. ) Group members were asked to summarize what the passages said and then explain the significance of the story events or tell why certain facts in a nonfiction article are important. Students with comprehension deficits often have difficulty making inferences in order to understand the writer's intent. Other children may be able to understand implied meaning, but struggle to put their thoughts into words. This activity provided an opportunity for pupils to develop critical thinking and then to express their conclusions.
Parents can help their children improve these skills by discussing reading selections with them and focusing on the inferences. Encourage your child to "read between the lines" to discover what the author is trying to communicate. Discussion questions may include:
- What does the author mean?
- What does this section tell you about the character?
- Why is this fact important?
- What is the purpose of this story? and most importantly...
- What can you learn from this passage?
At the recent American Speech and Hearing Association convention, one speaker told the audience of school speech-language pathologists, " Make the implicit explicit!" It was good advice- not only for those of us who teach students with language disorders, but also for parents who want to help their students comprehend and produce meaningful language.
