page+3+-+reading+(comprehension)

COMPREHENSION

Comprehension refers to the capacity of the readers to understand, that is, to know. From birth, the human mind has the capacity to make meaning and soon begins to utilise this most complex of human processes (Cairney, 1990, pg.45). Children in particular are expected to learn the meaning of what they are learning. Comprehension is the ‘complex process involving the intentional interaction between reader and text to extract meaning’ (IDEA, 2002). Research indicates that the ability to comprehend a written text depends on many interrelated factors, including the reader’s:  ·  Background knowledge of the content area  ·  Understanding of the complexities of language – how it is structured, the rules that govern it, how it works, etc  ·  Intertextual history – that is, the sum of all prior reading experiences  ·  Vocabulary  ·  Perceived purpose for reading  ·  Understanding of the reading process (Cairney, 1990, pg.45) An activity which helps the children comprehend a text is; when the students are asked to interpret a picture or story book by doing a role play. This way the children can create their own, individual meaning of what they are learning and express it creatively.