Reading Difficulties and Comprehension

Overview of Professional Development Opportunities

Short development sessions during meetings or book studies.
Resource: "The Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties."
Focus on Module 5: Reading Comprehension.

Presenter: David Kilpatrick, series of 13 webinars.
Modules: Cover reading research, assessment, prevention, overcoming difficulties.
Session 1: Understanding reading through the "Simple View of Reading."
- Formula: R = D * LC (Reading = Decoding * Language Comprehension).
- Three types of reading problems:
  - Dyslexia: Poor word-level reading.
  - Hyperlexia: Good word reading but poor comprehension.
  - Combined type: Issues with both word reading and comprehension.

Determine if comprehension issues stem from word reading or language.
Questions to Assess:
- Can the child comprehend when the passage is read to them?
- Does the child read fluently?
Role of Professionals:
- Speech-language pathologists can diagnose language comprehension problems.

Session 2: Identifies critical skills needed.
- Vocabulary, grammar, syntax, background knowledge, attention, working memory.
Situation Model: Combines various skills for comprehension.
- Building involves vocabulary, background knowledge, inferencing.

English Learners:
- Struggle with vocabulary, grammar, syntax, and background knowledge.
- Need long-term support to catch up with peers.
Visual-Spatial Skills:
- Important for building situation models.

Resources:
- "Understanding and Teaching Reading Comprehension."
- Best resource for vocabulary by researchers.

Reading comprehension is influenced by word reading and language comprehension.
Various skills are necessary for effective comprehension, including vocabulary and background knowledge.
English learners need support over time to develop comprehension skills.