Activities to enhance reading comprehension

1. Activities to enhance reading comprehension Taken and adapted from www.edhelper.com/ Alajuela English Advisory Ronald Vargas Chavarría 2008

2. Main idea

3. Read the paragraph and the main idea for the paragraph. Underline the details that support the main idea: • Main Idea: A new school is being built.They are building a new school. It is near my house. Every day, I watch the workers. They drive huge tractors. I watch them push a ton of dirt. They have a big crane. It helps them place tall beams. The workers build walls. They are using brick. Every day, it looks more like a school. Mom says I will go there in the fall!

4. Read the paragraph and then write the main idea of the paragraph: • My favorite dress is yellow. It has a white ribbon that ties in the middle. It has lace by the neck. It also has lace at the bottom. I wore it for my aunt's wedding. I was the flower girl. Mom said I looked as pretty as the bride!The main idea in this passage is:_________________________

5. Read the paragraph and then select the main idea for the paragraph: • It was backward day at school. The students had to do things backward. Some of them wore their T-shirts backward. They took a test before they studied the lesson! Dessert was served first instead of last. They tried to walk home backward, but they bumped into each other and fell down. • The main idea in this passage is:

6. Write the main idea of the paragraph and then underline the details that support the main idea. • I have a dog whose name is Shelby. I've had Shelby for five years. She is very pretty with long brown hair. She has turned into my best friend. She plays with me, sleeps with me, and goes on walks with me. I am so glad to have her around. I love her.The main idea in this passage is:_____________________________

7. Read the paragraph. Write the topic, the main idea, and two details that support the main idea. • John held the ball in his hands. He bounced it slowly on the ground. Once. Twice. He crouched low and then jumped. The ball flew into the air. Up, up, up, it went. Then down, down, down, into the basket. "Yes!" he yelled. "Nothing but net!"

8. Vocabulary

9. The voters were so upset about the outcome of the election that a skirmish broke out and the police had to break it up.Using the explanation clue, the word skirmish in this sentence means

10. We shopped at the emporium, which is as large as the shopping center, for shampoo and bath soap.Using the comparison clue, the word emporium in this sentence means

11. Our country's highest politician, the president, has the job of making sure our country stays safe. • In this sentence, the word politician means   man  boss  golferelected person

12. Mom and Dad were trying to decide how to update the family room. They couldn't agree on most things like what furniture to buy. Finally, after many discussions, they at least agreed on what hue they wanted the walls to be painted. • Write a synonym for the word hue.

13. Write a word to complete the sentence. We climbed the ________ to have a picnic. I liked eating my hot dog.

14. Circle the word that does not belong.

15. Although Mary was willing to play in the snow, Jack was reluctant because he was so cold.Using the antonym clue, the word reluctant in this sentence means

16. Multiple Meaning

17. Read the sentence. Pick the choice that uses the underlined word in the same way as in the original sentence. • Lack of money drove Joyce to sell the farm.

18. The employee put a caution sign up so no one would slip on the wet floor.

19. Inference

20. CompleteWe can guess that sam is a _____bird, rooster, dog, cat • Sam lay half in his pet house. He lifted his nose and sniffed the still air. The sky was changing from deep blue to yellow. Down the street a rooster crowed. Sam yawned, got up, and stretched his four long, black legs. Sam began to bark.

21. Who is Sam? a bird, a rooster, a dog, a cat • When is this happening? sunset, dawn, noon, during the night • Where does this story take place? Country, city, village, town Why did Sam get up?

22. Sequencing

23. Fill in the blanks to put the group of sentences in order. The first step is numbered for you.

24. Summarizing

25. I am so proud of my aunt. She quit smoking! Today marks the 90th day from when she quit. The family is going out to dinner to celebrate. We will go to her favorite restaurant, La Taliano.My aunt had smoked for twenty years. Recently, she was told by her doctor that she had better quit. There are many health risks associated with smoking. She told me she wanted to live a long time to see me grow up. I'm in third grade right now.She gave up cigarettes on a Friday night, and so far, has never looked back. I know it hasn't been easy. I am making her a special card to tell her how much I love her.

26. Read the paragraph and answer the questions. • Who is the story about? _______________________ • Why did the aunt quit smoking? _______________________ How did the aunt quit? _______________________

27. Thank you! “If the child is not learning the way you are teaching, then you must teach in the way the child learns” Rita Dunn