Interview the children on a one-on-one basis. Ask the students questions that are relevant to the teaching that they may have received in preschool or at home. These questions should include color recognition and basic number recognition, such as one through ten. Record your findings for each student, so that you are aware of each child's prior knowledge. This information will help you organize your comprehension curriculum for the rest of the year.
Teach reading comprehension. Teach kindergartners the alphabet and the sounds that the individual letters make. Help your students with pronunciation by using flash cards that display written sounds that individual letters make. Work on word recognition by using flash cards with items that represent a word. For example, a picture of an apple would be placed on an apple word flash card. The earlier children can understand and associate words, the earlier they can put words together and understand beginner books. Stories help children comprehend values such as right and wrong, as many beginner children's books are riddled with lessons on making right decisions.
Teach listening comprehension. Learning begins with listening and observation. Create activities in which the students listen to music, watch shows or listen to short stories, and ask them questions about the materials directly after the activity. Reward students who listen attentively with stickers or treats, such as crayons or erasers, to motivate the others to pay attention to the activity.
Find out what the kids are interested in learning. Create categories for each topic you wish to teach, and ask students what their favorite topics would be. Have the students circle their favorites on a list. Make sure that the options on the list are included in the curriculum set by the state or school board.