The Montessori Approach to Reading Comprehension

Who, What, Where, When, Why, How?

Reading comprehension in Lower Primary is intertwined in many activities throughout our programme and is not exclusively taught in isolation. Our aim is to ensure that the students are exposed during the three years to culturally diverse literature, as well as, to reading interpretively. Comprehension consists of making connections, questioning, inferring, visualising, determining importance and synthesising. Through the use of a variety of books students are engaged in literature and encouraged to develop several cognitive processes: drawing inferences, weighing evidence, drawing conclusions, making comparisons, and constructing meaning. Comprehension activities support students as they engage in the process of interpretive reading and reflective thinking. Getting accurate information (literal and implied), expressing that information, recognising style, awareness of context and reading for pleasure are all part of interpretive reading.

Learning Outcomes for Comprehension

• Students will know all comprehension terms and provide examples

• Students will be exposed to culturally diverse literature

• Students will respond to essential questions

• Students will be able to distinguish between structural features of a text
  i.e. plot, setting, characters, theme

• Students will be able to ask questions to further inform understanding of text