Reviewed by John Dabell
- 150 illustrated cards with texts covering an assortment of genres
- Highly differentiated with 15 colour-coded sections
- Comprehensive teacher’s guide packed with suggestions and strategies
- Downloadable progression guide available
A recent report published by the Education Endowment Foundation and the Royal Society found that the strongest factor affecting pupils’ science scores was how well they understood written texts. Of course, poor comprehension skills hold children back across the curriculum, but this report is a timely reminder that high quality strategies and resources boost pupils’ reading comprehension and make a positive impact on their achievement and confidence. One comprehension resource that cuts the mustard is Prim-Ed’s The Comprehension Box; a chocolate box of delights that skillfully mixes high interest, knowledge, intellectual energy and self-efficacy. The box is a weighty collection of sturdy, double-sided cards, with a comprehension text on one side and questions on the other. There are lots of them too, with ten cards per colour-coded section, and a satisfyingly heavy emphasis on understanding words in context. This finely-graded differentiation enables you and your pupils to get the right fit. Knowing where to start isn’t left to chance or instinct though, as there is a downloadable progression guide to steer you in the right direction.
The breadth and depth of coverage is impressive and there is clearly something for everyone here, with plenty of titles that will power curiosity and fuel motivation to read. The card system is a highly effective use of time as the texts are all concise and manageable, so children will have the pleasure of finishing a text. It’s a very convenient way to try new genres and authors, while practising a wide number of skills. There are lots of ways to use this resource and many teachers set it up as a pupil-led resource. The self-marking aspect means pupils can work independently but, for me, I use the cards as part and parcel of the pupil experience – poring over and dissecting texts, assessing and spotting gaps. It’s context-dependent and lends itself to both personalised learning and scaffolded skills work. The record-keeping frames in the teacher’s guide assist in planning next steps and help inform planning. The questions on each of the cards have been extremely well crafted and are superbly supplemented by further ‘something extra’ writing challenges that go the extra mile. The Comprehension Box develops key skills but, crucially, also promotes an enjoyment of reading.
A wealth of fiction and non-fiction texts supported by intelligent and diverse questions and activities
✔ A powerful partner for developing, reinforcing and extending key comprehension skills
✔ No preparation time – out of the box and ready to go
✔ Supports children’s independence and metacognition
✔ Ideal for daily bursts of reading
You are looking for a dynamic assortment of texts devoted to elevating comprehension skills, building vocabulary, increasing reading stamina and boosting reading confidence.