I believe that comprehending the material is much more than just a few questions at the end of a reading selection. I know that recent testing has been changed to reflect a more thoughtful response, although I am not sure that more testing is the answer to increasing our student's comprehension in the material. If a student in unable to connect the material to something that they already know it will become increasingly more difficult for them to comprehend it. I really liked the different examples of thought map, such as the KWL chart. I don't remember doing this activity until my Children's Literature class in college, but I believe it would be extremely beneficial to do at all levels, especially as a group activity before beginning a reading assignment.
- Do you think that thought maps and organizers are beneficial to all students for comprehension?
- Can forcing comprehension scare some students away from the joy of reading?