When we read a text, our level of understanding is determined by our ability to not only say the word but also to comprehend the meaning of the word in context. The ability to decode and pronounce words is what enables us to read, whereas knowing what the words mean in context is essential for understanding what we have read.
Therefore, reading comprehension is the understanding of the words that are written (vocabulary knowledge) along with how they make meaning within the text (text comprehension). Both of these skills together are what enables students to comprehend what they are reading and are the focus of our Reading Comprehension program.
