Developing Early Comprehension

Book excerpt: How does early comprehension develop in young children, and how can we better prepare preschoolers to beomce successful readers? This important volume compiles today's best research on the often-overlooked topic of prereader comprehension: what we know about it now, and what we need to know to build a stronger foundation for children's furture reading skills. More than two dozen literacy experts clearly describe theoretical models of early comprehension, demystify current research, recommend effective practices for boosting comprehension, and identify critical research priorities for the near future. An essential text and reference for reading specialists, program adminsitrators, SLPs, preservice professionals, and researchers, this volume is key to helping children develop the early comprehension skills that support later reading success. Key topics include: the importance of teaching all young children comprehension strategies; connections between vocabulary development and listening comprehension; the relationship of academic talk to reading comprehension; how social pretend play helps children cultivate skills essential for comprehension; development of executive function skills important for academic success assessment of comprehension skills in prereaders; ways to support early comprehension for multilingual students and those with special needs; and more.