1. Understanding What We Read: Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Discussion
Chapter 3

2. "A child who reads good books will prosper
"A child who reads good books will prosper. She will develop her vocabulary, increase her knowledge, and come to understand others better.
She will pass dull moments in pleasure, receive comfort in hard times, and experience moments of sheer joy. What else could possibly be better?"
Diane Stanley

3. Comprehension

4. Schema

5. Teacher's Role

6. Transactional Theory

7. Aesthetic Reading

8. Efferent Reading

9. Elements of the Transaction
The reader
The text
The message

10. Readability Formulas:
are ineffective
should be used cautiously
depend on reader experience and motivation

11. Building Comprehension

12. Aspects Activating / supplying prior knowledge Guiding reading
Reinforcing concepts
Encouraging critical thinking and inquiry

13. Assessing Comprehension

14. Retellings

15. Miscue Analysis

16. Story Mapping

17. Symbolic Story Representation

18. Writing to Learn

19. Other Ways
Comic Strip Writing
Sketch-to-Stretch
Think-Alouds

20. Vocabulary

21. Expanding vocabulary is a goal and outcome of reading.

22. B. Vocabulary is best learned in context rather than in isolation.

23. C. Students need multiple encounters with words for lasting comprehension.

24. D. Independent reading promotes vocabulary growth.

25. E. Learning vocabulary in isolation does not necessarily improve comprehension.

26. F. Narrative writing is better than nonfiction for vocabulary training.

27. G. Study of roots, derivations, morphology, etc
G. Study of roots, derivations, morphology, etc. provides students with tools.

29. H. The goal is to teach students to infer meanings in context.

30. Discussion

31. A. Discussion is NOT just the teacher asking questions.

32. B. Discussion is important for comprehension and building vocabulary.

33. See the CD-ROM which came with this text for:
Searchable database of children's literature
Author and illustrator profiles
Extension activity for comprehension
Visit the COMPANION WEBSITE for:
Online teacher tools
General resource websites for children's literature
Research oriented websites