There are two basic factors that effect reading comprehension: reader and text. Within these two basic factors are quite a few subfactors. The reader is, of course, the person reading the material. The text is, obviously, the material that is written and being read.
The subfactors for the reader are:
foreknowledge- what you might already know about the subject before reading
vocabulary- being familiar with the written words and knowing their meanings, along with being able to apply the meanings
fluency- recognizing words quickly, which allows quick reading and the smooth flow of words
comprehension strategies- the ability to troubleshoot comprehension problems while reading
comprehension skills- automatically noting key factors in a story, including sequencing and cause-and-effect
motivation- how badly the student wants to read and understand the material
Subfactors for the text are:
genres- unique characteristics of a story or book – the type of book
text structures- the way the text is organized
text features- glossary, index, table of contents, etc.
Each of the above listed subfactors contribute to the level of reading comprehension. The reader needs to have the ability to understand what he is reading. Reading way beyond an individual’s level of understanding is not beneficial to the reader. Readers should gradually read more difficult texts, after reaching an acceptable level of comprehension of the prior level of difficulty. Understanding the factors that affect reading comprehension can help you choose the appropriate course for your own reading comprehension goals, as well as that of your child’s.