LITERACY

16 Great Reading Comprehension Activities for Students

28 October 2023/ By Zineb DJOUB

Reading comprehension is a crucial skill for students of all ages. It’s not just about deciphering words on a page; it’s about understanding, interpreting, and connecting ideas. Indeed, supporting students to improve their reading comprehension skills is necessary to empower them to learn, think critically, communicate effectively, and navigate the complexities of the modern world. In this blog post, we are suggesting some effective reading comprehension activities that will benefit students throughout their academic and professional endeavors.

1. Predicting the text content

Have students make predictions about the content of a text before reading it. Then encourage them to revise their predictions in relation to the actual content.

This encourages students to actively engage with the text, make connections, and develop a deeper understanding of what they are reading.

You can let them set their own questions before they start reading based on the title or any illustrations.

Students can also predict the content of the text from a set of reading comprehension questions. They write their own version of the text from these questions and then compare their ideas after reading the original text.

To enhance students’ critical thinking, encourage prediction during the reading process. This works well with stories and narrative events.

Divide your text into parts (if possible). After reading the first part, invite students to discuss a set of questions with a partner before they read the second/third part. (what do you think will happen? Who will ..? What will they do? etc.

2. Summarizing

Ask students to summarize what they’ve read and share their summaries with peers for feedback and discussion. This will improve their reading comprehension, critical thinking, as well as writing skills.

Also, having them create video summaries or book trailers can enhance not only comprehension but also digital storytelling skills.

3. Rewriting

Rewriting can support students in processing and synthesizing the information in their own words, which deepens their understanding and retention of the material.

Students can rewrite or reimagine the ending of the text, paraphrase a section of the text, or write in their own words the main ideas and key details.

Another rewriting activity: once students have finished reading a text and answering a set of true/false questions, you could get them to rewrite the text so that the opposite is true.

4. Visualizing

Visualizing can improve comprehension by making the content more tangible. Students can use graphic organizers like concept maps, Venn diagrams, or story maps to help them visually organize information and identify key relationships.

Further, you could ask them to respond to a text they read in a more visual way.

They can draw a picture, diagram, what is being described (scene), etc. Then, ask them to describe the picture to a partner, revealing how the picture relates to what they read in the text.

5. Collaborative reading

Get students to read collaboratively in small groups: reading the same text and then discussing with the rest of the group what they think they have understood. (Reading buddies)

So, students articulate the reading process to each other (think aloud).

Additionally, to promote active reading and critical thinking, you can ask them to generate questions about the text, and then use those questions for group discussions or individual research.

6. Think-Pair-Share

Think-Pair-Share is one of the most engaging reading comprehension activities. Ask students to consider a specific question connected to the text, then pair up with a peer to share their ideas before discussing as a class. This encourages active participation and peer learning.

7. Literature circles

Implement literature circles in which each student is assigned a role and is challenged to discuss and examine the text more fully, and therefore collaboratively learn together.

These roles may include discussion leader (responsible for generating discussion and time management), passage person (highlights unclear passages to discuss), graphic organizer (organises events sequentially with arrows and other diagrams), and summarizer.

8. Socratic seminars

For more advanced students, hold Socratic seminars in which students engage in an organised conversation about the book, challenging each other’s interpretations and views.

To learn more about these seminars read this post: How to Use Socratic Seminars

9. Online discussion forums

Create online discussion forums or discussion boards where students can discuss the book, express their ideas, and ask questions. This promotes critical thinking as well as digital literacy.

Use online platforms like Google Docs or Microsoft Teams to facilitate group discussions and joint analysis.

10. Interactive Book Club Discussions

Using platforms such as Zoom or discussion boards, organize online book club discussions that allow students to engage in real-time debates and conversations about the text.

11. Using music

Allow students to select songs that relate to the text’s themes, emotions, or characters. They can justify their selections and create playlists that reflect their understanding of the material.

12. Podcasts

Students can create their own podcasts in which they discuss and analyze the text, providing insights, questions, and connections to current events.

13. Reading response journals

Encourage students to keep reading journals in which they record their reactions, thoughts, and questions. This can assist them in engaging with the material on a more personal level.

14. Reader’s Theatre

Make a script for a reader’s theater performance out of the text. Students can act out key scenes to better understand the characters and dialogue.

15. Digital annotations

Use digital tools that allow students to annotate and highlight text on electronic devices for digital annotations. They can take notes and make comments as they read, which can help with comprehension and discussion.

Here are the top tech for digital annotations

16. Escape room challenges

Create escape room-style challenges based on the text. To “escape” or complete the challenge, students must solve puzzles, riddles, and clues based on their understanding of the material.

There are several reading comprehension apps available, each with its own set of exercises, quizzes, and interactive stories.

From classic techniques like close reading and summarizing to modern approaches involving technology and peer collaboration, these reading comprehension activities encourage students to think creatively and deeply about the text they read and develop a love for extensive reading. So, embrace these activities. You will unlock the power of reading comprehension and set forth a journey of lifelong learning and discovery.