Dear Parent/Guardian,

Your child is currently working on the literacy strategy, Back up and reread, which helps with the overall goal, Comprehension.

Sometimes readers get to a point where they realize they do not understand what they are reading. Somewhere during their reading, they lost concentration and therefore the meaning of the text. When proficient readers realize they have lost comprehension, they stop, back up, and reread. Your child has been introduced to the comprehension strategy Check for Understanding. In learning this strategy, students are taught to stop throughout the text and ask, “Who is it about?” and “What happened?” Your child is working on what to do when they aren't able to answer the “who” and “what” questions: the comprehension strategy Back up and reread.

How can you help your child with this strategy at home?
  1. Model this strategy for your child. When reading with your child, periodically stop and ask them to check for understanding. If your child has difficulty answering “who” and “what,” remind them to back up and reread. Tell your child to read slowly and think about what is being read. After doing this, stop and check for understanding again. Remember, modeling is one of the most effective teaching strategies, so you can demonstrate this when reading to your child.
  2. Keep in mind that using the two strategies Check for Understanding and Back Up and Reread together will help your child understand and remember the story.
  3. It is often easier to understand text when we read it slowly. Encourage your child to read slowly, follow the text with a finger if it helps, and focus on thinking about the meaning of the words and the story.
Thank you for your continued support at home!

—Mrs. Boushey

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