For many students, reading comprehension skills can be challenging. Teachers may hear students read with fluency and accuracy and assume they’re doing well in reading. But if asked questions about what they read, those same students may struggle.

Reading comprehension is comprised of several levels:

• Literal
• Interpretive
• Critical
• Creative

When students read, they need to be able to understand text on all of these levels. Sometimes they’re reading for literal information, such as a recipe or directions. Other times, they may need to get deeper than surface area knowledge and ask questions about what the author may mean, using interpretive skills. They may also need to read with a critical eye, fact-checking information. Finally, some reading calls for students to be creative in their understanding and make judgments about their thinking in relation to the author’s writing. Let’s take a closer look at each of these strands.