THE IMPORTANCE OF READING COMPREHENSION

Reading is of the essence in acquiring information operationally define Reading Comprehension refers to one’s capacity to recognize or read text, comprehend to meaning and to eventually convert the meaning to the reader’s prior knowledge. This simply means that Reading Comprehension is the process of understanding what one reads either orally or in silence. This description then clearly defines how significant is the acquisition of reading skills for every learner because it is the utilization of these skills that learners discover significant messages and concepts from written text.

In this regard, it is really important that every learner will fully acquire the set reading skills/competencies per grade level to be able to utilize them in getting information, understanding written texts and concepts, conveying messages and eventually developing these competencies needed in the other learning areas.

Hence, with such view, it is but fit and proper that some experts may ask this question, “What is the role of the English/Reading teachers in fully developing the competencies needed in order effect effective reading and understanding? After having asked this question to others, these are what they have to say: It is the duty of the teacher to use various techniques, strategies, programs and Learning Resources so as to make learning more interesting, effective and enjoyable. I, for instance, a Reading teacher was able to observe strategies which turned out to be effective. The conduct of remediation/enhancement lessons to select pupils and students is observed to be effective in improving the skills of the learners.

Implementation of appropriate innovations/interventions/projects are also have significant impact to the learners.

Another tested effective strategy to most learners one could use is the involvement of parents and siblings at home in extending assistance in the reading drills of their children, either on word recognition or comprehension development sessions. Finally, as a reading teacher myself, I have truly internalized the significance of Reading in every learning area in order for a learner to acquire necessary and complete information from the text being read. In this manner, every reading teacher must exert extra effort and take an extra mile in ensuring the fullest development of all the Reading skills needed by every learner to be able to comprehend the text he or she is dealing with.

--oOo— The author is Teacher II at St. Vincent of Quebiawan Integrated School