This is a guest post from Anna Chirillo, an upper-elementary ELA teacher at Think Academy.
Your Child Can Read. But Do They Really Understand?
Your child may be reading smoothly and finishing books quickly. But are they truly understanding what they read?
Reading comprehension for kids is the ability to understand, explain and think about what they read. Many children learn to read words fluently before they learn to make meaning from a story. They may sound confident reading aloud, yet struggle to explain what happened, why a character made a choice or how they know an answer is true.
Whether your child is reading physical books or reading online on Epic, comprehension skills are what turn reading into real learning.
Decoding vs. Comprehension: Why Reading Fluency Isn’t Enough
Reading development is made up of two essential skills: decoding and comprehension.
Decoding is the ability to recognize and read words accurately. Comprehension is the ability to understand, interpret, and explain what those words mean in context. According to Scarborough’s Reading Rope, skilled reading combines both word recognition and language comprehension. Early readers often build decoding skills first through phonics, fluency and accuracy practice.
But if comprehension does not develop alongside those skills, reading growth can stall.
The Simple View of Reading explains it clearly: Reading Comprehension = Decoding × Language Comprehension.
Strong decoding alone does not guarantee understanding. Fluency is visible. Comprehension is invisible.
2 Signs Your Child May Be Struggling with Reading Comprehension
1. They answer “what” but not “why” or “how.”
Often, children can retell events in order. They know what happened first, next, and last. But when asked why something happened, or how a character felt, they hesitate.
They may be reading for information, not for meaning.
According to Benjamin Bloom’s well-known framework, Bloom’s Taxonomy, higher-order thinking involves analyzing, evaluating and explaining, not just recalling facts.
This is often a sign of surface-level reading. True comprehension requires deeper thinking, including analyzing, connecting and explaining ideas.
2. They answer from memory, not the text.
Another sign appears during homework or test preparation. When answering comprehension questions, does your child return to the text to check for proof, or do they answer from memory?
Modern state assessments aligned with the Common Core State Standards emphasize evidence-based responses. Students are expected not only to choose an answer, but to justify it using details from the passage. This reflects a broader shift toward reasoning and textual evidence in literacy education.
Strong readers support their thinking with evidence from the text. This is a key skill in literacy development and classroom learning.
What Does “Thinking While Reading” Mean?
Comprehension improves when children read actively, not passively. Literacy research, supported by organizations like the International Literacy Association, shows that strong comprehension depends on active reading strategies that help children connect what they read to meaning.
Active reading includes:
- Asking questions
- Predicting what will happen next
- Noticing confusing parts
- Making connections
- Explaining reasoning
Reading more books helps. Reading with intention makes the biggest difference.
4 Simple Ways to Build Reading Comprehension During Reading Time
You don’t need longer reading sessions. You don’t need harder books. What you need is a simple structure. Here’s a clear, manageable way to upgrade everyday Epic reading time:
Step 1: Pause and predict
Ask:
“What do you think will happen next?”
“What makes you think that?”
This builds reasoning, not guessing.
Step 2: Ask about character motivation
Ask:
“Why did the character do that?”
Then go one layer deeper:
“What were they feeling?”
“What problem were they trying to solve?”
This helps children move from describing actions to understanding causes.
Step 3: Look for evidence
Ask:
“Can you show me where the story tells you that?”
If needed, model it:
“I think she was nervous because the text says her hands were shaking.”
This builds the critical skill of using evidence, often emphasized in state reading assessments.
Step 4: End with one strong sentence
Ask your child to summarize the story using a word like:
- because
- so
- but
For example: “The boy learned to be brave because he faced his fear.”
This helps children build cause-and-effect thinking naturally.
You don’t need to use all four steps every time. Even choosing one step per reading session can gradually shift reading from passive decoding to active thinking.
A Simple 10-Minute Reading Comprehension Routine
After your child finishes a book:
- Ask one “why” question
- Ask them to show proof in the text
- Have them explain their answer in one full sentence
Small changes can lead to big improvements over time.
If you want more books to practice with, explore Epic’s library of over 40,000 books online.
Why Reading Comprehension Matters
Strong comprehension helps children think critically, perform better in school, and engage more deeply with what they read.
Fluent reading is just the beginning. Understanding is the goal.
Build Stronger Readers With Epic
Epic gives kids access to thousands of high-quality books, including Read-To-Me books, leveled readers and engaging stories that support both fluency and comprehension.
As your child reads, you can use simple strategies like asking “why” questions and finding evidence in the text to turn everyday reading into deeper learning.
About the Author
Anna Chirillo is an upper-elementary ELA teacher at Think Academy with over 10 years of experience helping students strengthen reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. She is also a homeschooling mom of four who is passionate about helping children dig deeper and understand the “why” behind what they read.
Frequently Asked Questions
▶ Why can my child read but not understand what they read?
Many children develop decoding (word-reading) skills before comprehension skills. This means they can read words smoothly and confidently but may not yet have the vocabulary, background knowledge or reasoning skills needed to fully understand the text. Reading fluency is visible but comprehension develops more gradually and requires deeper thinking.
▶ What is the difference between decoding and comprehension?
Decoding is the ability to recognize and read words accurately and fluently. Comprehension is the ability to understand, interpret and explain what those words mean within a story or passage. Strong reading skills require both working together—not just reading the words but making meaning from them.
▶ How can I improve my child’s reading comprehension at home?
You can build reading comprehension during everyday reading time by asking simple meaningful questions. Try asking “why” questions, encouraging your child to find evidence in the text and having them explain their thinking in complete sentences. Even a few minutes of active reading can make a big difference.
▶ At what age should reading comprehension develop?
Reading comprehension begins developing in early elementary school as children learn to connect words to meaning. However, it continues to grow over time as they build vocabulary, background knowledge and critical thinking skills. Comprehension is a long-term skill that develops with practice and support.
