back to the clearinghouse

Adolescent

Evidence Snapshot for Parents and Caregivers

Supporting Your Student's Reading Comprehension

Date added: November 14, 2025

Ask questions, talk about ideas, and encourage regular reading to support a student’s comprehension.

Why it matters

From fourth grade on, students must understand complex text to succeed in school.
Struggles with reading comprehension can lead to poor grades, frustration, and missed learning opportunities.
Comprehension isn’t just about reading the words—it’s about making sense of what they mean.

How you can help at home

Talk with your student about what they’re reading. Ask, “What was the main idea?” or “What happened in that article?”
Encourage your student to summarize what they’ve read in their own words.
Help build their background knowledge. Discuss real-world topics, watch documentaries, or visit the library.
Review vocabulary for science and history assignments.
Support consistent reading habits. Reading 10–15 minutes a day goes a long way.

What to watch for

Your student reads fluently but can’t explain what they read.
They say things like “I don’t get it” or copy from the text without understanding it.
Homework takes a long time because they’re struggling to understand the material.

Family takeaway

Reading comprehension is essential—not just for English class, but for learning in every subject.
By asking questions, talking about ideas, and encouraging regular reading, you can support your student’s success at home.

The information provided in this summary is based on findings from A Systematic Review of Reading Comprehension Instruction and Intervention for Adolescent Learners.

MAIN resource

A review of studies addressing eading comprehension outcomes among adolescent learners.

The information provided in this summary is based on findings from Adolescent Reading Comprehension Instruction and Intervention

Share Resource

More Evidence Snapshots for Parents and Caregivers

Parents and Caregivers

Modeling Literacy Skills with Your Preschooler

Talking, storytelling, books, and building vocabulary all provide valuable language experiences.

Parents and Caregivers

Helping Your Family Member Grow Their Literacy Skills

Adults can and do improve their reading with good instruction and steady support.

Parents and Caregivers

Helping Your Preschooler Build Oral Language and Vocabulary

Talking, singing, and playing help build language skills that help young children learn to read.

Parents and Caregivers

Helping Your Preschooler Develop Print Awareness

Talking, reading, and playing with print every day helps your child build reading skills.

Parents and Caregivers

Helping your preschooler learn to read and succeed in school

Simple, everyday interactions (i.e., talking, reading, and playing) build strong literacy skills.

Parents and Caregivers

Helping Your Student Build Knowledge

Students build knowledge of the world through content-rich materials and teaching.

Parents and Caregivers

Making the Reading-Writing Connection in Grades K-3

Children become stronger readers when they also write regularly—and vice versa.

Parents and Caregivers

Supporting Students' Reading Fluency Outside the Classroom

Parents and caregivers can help students improve their reading fluency.

Parents and Caregivers

Helping Your Student Talk Through Texts to Build Understanding

Text-based discussion is a powerful way to help a student become a stronger thinker and reader.

Parents and Caregivers

Adolescent Literacy Motivation for Grades 4-9

When students want to read, they read more—and when they read more, their skills grow.

Parents and Caregivers

Helping Your Child Understand What They Read

Reading comprehension means your child can understand, remember, and talk about what they read.

Parents and Caregivers

Academic Vocabulary Instruction in K-3

Building vocabulary gives children the language they need to think, learn, and succeed.

Parents and Caregivers

Supporting Your Child’s Reading in Science, History, and More

Helping your student build reading, writing, and thinking skills will support their learning.

Parents and Caregivers

Helping Your Child Learn Phonics

Strong phonics skills are the foundation for strong reading skills.

Parents and Caregivers

Multisyllabic Reading, Grades 4-9

Success with reading longer words takes time, practice, and support outside the classroom.

Parents and Caregivers

Helping Your Child Read by Learning Sounds

Phonological and phonemic awareness are critical for learning to read and spell.

More Adolescent Literacy Resources

Supporting Phonological and Phonemic Awareness in Preschool

Effective Reading Interventions for Adult Literacy Learners

Oral Language and Vocabulary Instruction for Preschoolers

Supporting Print Awareness in Preschool Instruction

Emergent Literacy Instruction Across Classroom Activities

Effective Reading Fluency Interventions for Students in Grades 4-9

The Effects of Vocabulary Instruction for Adolescent Learners

Reading-Writing Connection: Integrated Literacy Instruction in K-3

Content-Rich Interventions on Reading Outcomes in Grades K-3

Text-Based Discussion Intervention Outcomes for Adolescent Readers

Adolescent Motivation and Engagement in Literacy Learning

Foundational Reading Comprehension Interventions for K-3 Students

Adolescent Reading Comprehension Instruction and Intervention

The Effects of Academic Vocabulary Knowledge Interventions

Review of Disciplinary Literacy Research on Adolescent Readers

Oral Fluency Interventions for K-3 Students

A Review of K-3 Phonics Practices or Interventions

Multisyllabic Word Reading Interventions for Grades 4-9 Students

Phonological and Phonemic Awareness Interventions