Homeschooling parents: How do you teach reading comprehension / retention?

Question

My daughter is beginning 4th grade and we have decided to homeschool this year. Her spelling and reading ability are fantastic, but she doesn't seem to retain anything she reads. I can have her read the same chapter of a book three times and then ask a few questions about it and she won't get any of them. I am stuck on exactly how TEACH her to retain information.

We are having the same problem with multiplication tables. We say them, write them, use flash cards, do worksheets - but she still can't/won't memorize them.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Answer 1

I would use a technique called Narration. Have her read a paragraph to herself or aloud to you. She then needs to tell you what it was about. Don't ask her specific questions. Over time, she will get better and better at this.

A great book to read about comprehension is called 7 Keys to Comprehension  

http://www.amazon.com/7-Keys-Comprehensi...

For multiplication tables- try this free online game

http://www.bigbrainz.com/#ScrollStart

Best of Luck to You!

Jana

http://www.purehomeschooling.com

Answer 2

Try having her read something she's interested in. You can't really teach someone to retain information they don't care about and find boring, not for long anyway and what would be the point? I bet if you have her read a chapter of something she IS interested in she'll be able to answer questions.

Multiplication tables are also boring and unless she can see a point to memorizing them why would she?  

Answer 3

Is she choosing the books or are they being chosen for her? If she has no interest in remembering the information, she likely won't. Try with just a paragraph from something she's choosing to read. I know one homeschooled girl who was 3 grades behind in her reading comprehension level when she started homeschooling in gr. 7. She was given the requirement to read--but she was allowed to read anything (appropriate) that she wanted. She was tested at the end of her gr. 9 year and was at grade level for her reading comprehension. I believe it was that she was allowed, for the first time, to choose things she was really interested in reading. Sure, she started out with very simple stuff, but then, having the choice to drop the books if she wasn't finding them interesting, she gradually moved onto more and more difficult books.

For the times tables, there are a few things to consider:

1) Does she want to? If not, it's going to take longer.

2) Are you trying to do too many at once? Keep it simple, even if it's just a single fact each day. Definitely don't do more than one table at a time.

3) Have you tried incorporating movement? Come up with some fun games to play--draw a number line for one of the times tables on sidewalk. For example, let's say she's working on her x4, so you'd have a number line with 4, 8, 12, 16, etc. Ask her to jump from one number to the next reciting the equation. "1 times 4 is 4. [jump] 2 times 4 is 8." After that, you give her questions and she has to jump on the correct one. Games in general where she needs to move things around can be helpful, or where she's more mentally active--multiplication bingo involves more thinking and attention than does reciting or doing worksheets. Peggy Kaye's "Games for Math" will have all kinds of ideas that you can use to entice your daughter to at least work on them, even if she doesn't see a real reason to learn them at this point.

For some additional fun, have her check your own retention and speed of the times tables. :)

Answer 4

When reading with my twins, we read together as a group, taking turns. When something significant comes up we take a break from the reading & discuss it's relevance. BeoWulf was a slow study but we are all looking forward to the Iliad & the Odyssey this winter.

I started using Saxon math last year. Both of the girls like it & it is lots of repetition. Multiplication tables are referred to consistantly throughout life, they will in time, no doubt, become second knowledge. Break it down into smaller steps, ask her what she thinks her problem might be.

To this day I have those memorised but I cannot for the life of me memorise a piece of music, go figure.