Write a quick paragraph that outlines a simple problem. For example, detail the story of a man trying to get from the ground floor of a building to the roof while the elevators are out of order. Give the class tools for solving the problem -- mention a staircase or a ladder resting outside, for instance -- and bury them in the paragraph. Present the paragraph to your class and have them read through it. Once everyone has completed the paragraph, ask your students for suggestions on how the man can solve his problem, using the clues they discovered while reading.
You can enhance both the reading comprehension and writing skills of your classroom by working with them to develop their ability to summarize. Provide the class with short paragraphs and have them read through the paragraphs. Ask your students to write a brief summary of the events that took place in the paragraph. This activity works the short-term memory, overall reading comprehension, understanding of chronology in writing and the ability to successfully write a paragraph of one’s own.
Every student learns at his or her own pace, and some students will have difficulty with one particular area of understanding while others do not. Split your classroom into pairs whenever possible and invite the pairs to read aloud to one another or listen as you read to the class. From there, ask your students to talk to one another about what sort of information they gleaned from the reading. This allows your students to help one another with forming independent opinions and decoding written English.
One of the most important aspects of reading comprehension is the ability to tell fact from opinion. While natural English readers may consider this ability innate, it will take some dedicated work to build the skill up in your students. Provide students with both factual and editorial writing examples and ask them to read through the paragraphs to determine which is which. Invite your class to share their conclusions with one another, as well as any strategies they may have developed for separating facts from opinions.