What is a major contributor to weak comprehension in young children?

Weak word reading skills significantly contribute to poor comprehension in young children because reading relies on the ability to decode words accurately and fluently. When children struggle with basic reading skills, they often find it challenging to make sense of texts. This difficulty can lead to frustration and disinterest in reading, further perpetuating the cycle of weak comprehension.

Fluency in decoding allows children to focus their cognitive resources on understanding and interpreting the meaning of the text, rather than on the mechanics of reading. As a result, when word reading skills are weak, children may miss key ideas, struggle to engage with the content, and ultimately have a harder time grasping the overall message of what they read.

In contrast, good vocabulary knowledge, listening comprehension, and background knowledge also influence comprehension but do not have the immediate impact on reading fluency that decoding skills have. These factors are important, but they typically play a supporting role in the broader context of understanding text. Developing strong word reading skills provides a solid foundation that enhances all aspects of reading comprehension.