How to Improve Grade 7 Reading Comprehension in 5 Simple Steps

Grade 7 reading comprehension is a critical skill to develop. As students move into higher grades, they are expected to read more complex texts and derive meaning from them. Many students struggle in this area, which can impact their academic performance across all subjects. Fortunately, there are simple steps that teachers and parents can take to help students improve their reading comprehension. In this article, we will explore five of these steps.

Step 1: Activate Prior Knowledge
One of the most effective ways to improve reading comprehension is to activate a student’s prior knowledge before reading. This means connecting new information to what the student already knows. For example, before reading a text about the American Revolution, a teacher might ask students to brainstorm what they know about the topic. This helps activate their prior knowledge and creates a framework for understanding the text.

Step 2: Teach Reading Strategies
Another critical step in improving reading comprehension is teaching students reading strategies. This includes skills like predicting, visualizing, questioning, and summarizing. A teacher might model these strategies for students while reading a text aloud and then have students practice using the strategies on their own.

Step 3: Provide Multiple Opportunities to Read
Reading is a skill that improves with practice, so it’s essential to provide students with multiple opportunities to read. This can include a variety of texts, such as fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Teachers might also consider incorporating silent sustained reading time into their classroom routine, allowing students to read self-selected books.

Step 4: Build Vocabulary
A robust vocabulary is crucial for reading comprehension. Students who struggle with vocabulary often have difficulty understanding the meaning of the text. Teachers can help students build their vocabulary by incorporating new words into their lessons and encouraging students to use context clues to figure out the meaning of unknown words.

Step 5: Monitor Progress and Provide Feedback
Finally, it’s essential to monitor students’ progress and provide feedback on their reading comprehension skills. This can be done through informal assessments, such as observations and conversations, as well as formal assessments, such as comprehension quizzes. This feedback can help students understand their strengths and weaknesses and guide teachers in providing targeted instruction.

In conclusion, improving reading comprehension in grade 7 can be accomplished through a combination of strategies. By activating prior knowledge, teaching reading strategies, providing multiple opportunities to read, building vocabulary, and monitoring progress and providing feedback, students can enhance their reading comprehension skills and, ultimately, their academic success.