The Challenges of Literacy in Developed Countries: Why Has Text Comprehension Become More Difficult?
Basic literacy education in developed countries is currently at a good level. However, the challenge is not in learning to read, but in understanding the meaning of texts and capturing the message they convey. For many children, especially boys, understanding textbook content and deeply comprehending the material has become more difficult. This is partly due to the decline in leisure reading, which traditionally strengthened literacy, as other interests have taken its place.
The Role of Teachers – Focusing on Comprehension
Teachers should pay special attention to how children understand textbook content. Simply observing the accuracy and fluency of reading aloud is not enough. Instead, the emphasis should be on stress-free comprehension of learning materials. One practical approach is to incorporate texts that children themselves have chosen into the learning materials. This helps build a connection between reading and the child’s interests. Progress can be monitored through activities such as writing exercises, which help assess how well a child has understood what they have read.
Comprehension Game – A Tool to Support Literacy
To address this challenge, we have developed The Comprehension Game (fi. Tokapeli). It offers teachers and students a fun and interactive way to improve reading comprehension skills. The game can be used alongside traditional learning materials or on its own. Read more about Comprehension Game.
The Importance of Parental Support
Parents also play a significant role in developing children’s literacy skills. One of the most effective ways is reading aloud to children from an early age. This creates a foundation for the child’s interest in reading and helps them understand that texts always carry a message.
Parents can further support their child’s literacy development by using our Tale Reader (fi. Satukirstu) app, which reads stories to children in a way that not only encourages interest in the world of books but can also teach them to read. The app helps direct the learning of reading from the very beginning towards understanding the meaning of texts. Read more about Tale Reader.
A Shared Goal
Literacy is the key to learning and participating in society. All parties—teachers, parents, and policymakers—must find ways to ensure that children’s literacy development focuses on understanding texts and capturing the message they convey. Through collaboration, we can address the challenges of the literacy crisis and build a strong foundation for future learning.
