Reading comprehension is one of the most important elements of literacy. Comprehension involves exploring a text beyond simply understanding the words and finding deeper meaning in what has been said. Students should be able to connect information they read with real-life examples and critically examine works for errors or contradictions.
Vocabulary is the foundation of any written language. Without a strong vocabulary, students find it very difficult to understand what is happening in their reading as assignments grow more difficult. Middle school students should have a much wider vocabulary than elementary students and should find it easier to use context clues in writing to determine the meaning of new words.
Inference is a key skill in which the true meaning of what is said is determined by comparing tone, physical cues and a wide variety of other mechanisms. In writing, inference can be used to determine whether a character is being sincere, what may happen next in the book, or the causes of different characters' actions or motivations. Inference is a tricky skill that requires strong reading comprehension and a general comfort with the works being studied.
Middle school students should be able to read a text, understand the information that is presented and remember it at a later date. Many struggling readers find it difficult to recall basic information from texts, and some students read too quickly to allow information to settle in their minds. One of the key barometers of reading success is a student's ability not only to process information, but to use that information to better their studies in the future.