6 Comprehension Activity Ideas for Your Reading Class

Each comprehension activity shared in this blog post is the culmination of the training, tips, and tricks I have been sharing in this 5 blog post series! They are perfect for your literacy instruction if you teach 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade.

Missed the beginning of this reading comprehension blog series? Check them out at the links below or if you want all of this incredible info sent right to your inbox to use and save? Sign up for the email training here to gain access to all of the freebies associated with this blog series.

#1 Overview of all Comprehension Skills

#2 Three Steps to Scaffolding Lessons

#3 Interactive Think Alouds to Model Comprehension

#4 Using Picture Books to Practice Skills

#5 Comprehension Activities to Apply Reading Strategies

What is a comprehension activity?

A comprehension activity is something students can do independently or with a partner that practices APPLYING a skill they have learned. This should come after a lesson and beginning understanding of the reading strategy.

The activity serves as a way for students to implement what they have learned with text on their reading level.

Recap of Blog Series

🟪 You know all the reading comprehension strategies & what they mean.

🟦 You know how to bring these strategies to life for your students in a concrete way.

🟨 You know how to scaffold lessons through photographs and progress into text practice.

🟩 You know how to model think alouds with photographs.

🟪 You know how to choose a mentor text for a comprehension lesson.

🟦 You know how to plan and implement a think aloud with a picture book.

Now, let’s wrap up with some ways to go beyond the whole group modeling into interactive and differentiated activities to continue practice in a meaningful way. 

🎁 Free parent resource in the email series! Sign up for the email training here.

I use reading centers to reach all of my students’ needs and keep instructional practice engaging and constantly interactive. However, these ideas can work no matter how you structure your reading class!

📒 Comprehension Activity Ideas

💡 Use consistent graphic organizers with kids choosing the book or a differentiated text provided to them. It is easy to make a bunch of copies and have them available for the kids to grab based on the focus skill for that day. 

Graphic organizers pictured from the Presley the Predictor Comprehension Crew pack. 

💡 Differentiated passages – Sometimes we just need some printable worksheets for students to practice reading and comprehending. BUT they can be interesting and differentiated to their level. 

These passages are from the main idea nonfiction passages. 

I have always found the lower level passages to look babyish and my 2nd graders could tell they were getting a lower level so I set out to make my passages look as identical as they can but with the language geared towards to distinct levels of readers. 

💡 Post pictures of all the books you read together- I would catch my students pointing to the covers and reminiscing about the stories we shared! They were making connections between characters, summarizing for friends who forgot the story, evaluating which stories they liked the most etc. 

I also once overheard a student proudly show their parent this display and say “look how many books I read!” 🥰

💡 Board games- As a lover of reading I was always frustrated that there were so many fun math games and I really wanted students to enjoy the fun of an interactive game but with comprehension! So my comprehension board games were born! They come with short passages, but can also be used with any text! 

This photo is a game from the text structure game pack! 

💡 Give parent resources so when they are reading together they can practice and encourage applying the skills!

🎁 The free parent resource is available through my reading comprehension email training series! Sign up here. I suggest using this if you use the Comprehension Crew in your classroom, but really any parent can use the ideas and information about each character to inspire meaningful discussions while reading with their child!

💡 Use think alouds and comprehension strategies across content areas. We read with our students all the time! Predict outcomes in science, make connections in social studies, or ask questions about math word problems. Make the reading comprehension strategy words a part of your regular speech! It will continuously reinforce the meanings.

Conclusion

Just keep swimming, friend!

Keep making changes and reflecting on your reading instruction to make it perfect for your students! You don’t need to do exactly what I do or exactly what the teacher next door does, find what matches your teaching style. 

I truly hope that these ideas and tips will help you in your classroom! It is my passion to help teachers make learning more engaging for little minds and little hearts. 

👋🏽 Days from now, months from now- if you need me I’ll be here to brainstorm or problem solve the best way to teach comprehension strategy for your students. Just reach out anytime!

❤️ Thank you for being part of this training series. I would love if you would reply and let me know what you thought!