Reading for Meaning
Understand that reading is about making meaning, not just saying words correctly — a text that can be decoded but not understood has not been read
Teaching approaches
Gakuva’s recommended starting approach is selected. You can still compare every option.
1 approach
Reading is not finished when the words are said. Reading means you understand the message. If you can say the words but cannot tell what it was about, keep working on the meaning.
Spend about 10 minutes reading a short text, checking understanding, and retelling the meaning in plain words.
Learning resources
Reviewed external links that reinforce this concept. They do not replace Gakuva’s teaching approach.
Does It Make Sense?
Decide whether a decoded sentence makes sense. Reinforces that reading is meaning-making, not only accurate word calling.
Proof: Save a screenshot of a judged sentence plus a parent note quoting why the learner said it did or did not make sense.
Explore the learning path
1 before · 2 after
Before
This concept
Check understanding
- Simple View of Reading (Gough & Tunmer)
- reading comprehension research on comprehension-decoding separation
“If your child reads something aloud correctly but then can't tell you what it was about, do they recognise that reading means understanding — not just saying the words?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Meta
- Subject
- English
- Domain
- English Thinking
- Age range
- Ages 5–6