What is a comprehension check?

A comprehension check serves as a valuable tool for educators to evaluate students’ understanding of a reading passage. This assessment is designed to ascertain whether students have grasped the main ideas, themes, and specific details of the text they have read. By conducting comprehension checks, teachers can identify areas where students may struggle, allowing them to provide targeted support and instruction to improve reading comprehension skills.

These checks can take various forms, such as questions, discussions, or written responses that require students to articulate their understanding and interpretations of the text. By focusing on comprehension, educators can ensure that students not only read the words but also derive meaning from them, which is essential for their overall literacy development.

In contrast, activities focused on reading speed, summarizing text, or assessing vocabulary knowledge serve different purposes and do not specifically target the evaluation of comprehension in the way a comprehension check does.