
Understanding Reading Comprehension
Processes and Practices
Wayne Tennent(Author)
SAGE Publications Ltd (Publisher)
2nd Edition
Will be published approx. on 13. December 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-1-5264-2379-5 (ISBN)
Description
Reading comprehension is a vital part of literacy that all primary school teachers need to understand.
Drawing from educational and psychological research, this book offers a detailed analysis of how reading comprehension happens combined with practical teaching strategies for the classroom.
This heavily revised second edition explores the underlying linguistic and cognitive processes that support comprehension, from inference making to the role of metacognition. It builds on this procedural knowledge to examine text selection, classroom pedagogy and how to assess comprehension.
This is essential reading for primary English modules on initial teacher education courses, including university-based (PGCE, BA w/QTS, BEd) and school-based (SCITT, Teach First) routes into teaching, and also for current teachers wishing to further develop their knowledge.
Drawing from educational and psychological research, this book offers a detailed analysis of how reading comprehension happens combined with practical teaching strategies for the classroom.
This heavily revised second edition explores the underlying linguistic and cognitive processes that support comprehension, from inference making to the role of metacognition. It builds on this procedural knowledge to examine text selection, classroom pedagogy and how to assess comprehension.
This is essential reading for primary English modules on initial teacher education courses, including university-based (PGCE, BA w/QTS, BEd) and school-based (SCITT, Teach First) routes into teaching, and also for current teachers wishing to further develop their knowledge.
More details
Edition
2nd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 244 mm
Width: 170 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
505 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5264-2379-5 (9781526423795)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
approx. 12/2025
2nd Edition
SAGE Publications Ltd
€150.20
Not yet published

E-Book
11/2025
2nd Edition
SAGE Publications Ltd
€96.99
Available for download
Previous edition

Book
11/2014
1st Edition
SAGE Publications Ltd
€37.50
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Wayne Tennent is a Senior Lecturer in Education at Brunel University of London. His co-authored book Guiding Readers - Layers of Meaning was published in 2016 and won the United Kingdom Literacy Association (UKLA) academic book of the year award. He is a Brunel Global Citizen Award Winner, as nominated by the students, for his work in promoting a critical awareness of 'race' and gender in texts used for teaching.
He works with schools, both nationally and internationally, developing pedagogical practices to support teaching for reading comprehension. Previously, he taught for many years, mainly in London, but also in Greece, Brunei and New Zealand. He continues to work with children on a regular basis.
He works with schools, both nationally and internationally, developing pedagogical practices to support teaching for reading comprehension. Previously, he taught for many years, mainly in London, but also in Greece, Brunei and New Zealand. He continues to work with children on a regular basis.
Content
Section I Processes
Chapter 1 What does it mean to read?
Chapter 2 What does it mean to comprehend?
Chapter 3 Linguistic processes
Chapter 4 Knowledge
Chapter 5 Cognitive processes: Memory
Chapter 6 Cognitive processes: Inference making
Chapter 7 Metacognition
Chapter 8 Pulling it all together
Section II Practices
Chapter 9 Assessing reading comprehension - but NOT for learning
Chapter 10 Assessing reading for comprehension
Chapter 11 Selecting texts for teaching
Chapter 12 Teaching for comprehension: Text choice and planning
Chapter 13 Pedagogy and assessment opportunities
Chapter 14 Teaching for comprehension: pedagogy in practice
Chapter 1 What does it mean to read?
Chapter 2 What does it mean to comprehend?
Chapter 3 Linguistic processes
Chapter 4 Knowledge
Chapter 5 Cognitive processes: Memory
Chapter 6 Cognitive processes: Inference making
Chapter 7 Metacognition
Chapter 8 Pulling it all together
Section II Practices
Chapter 9 Assessing reading comprehension - but NOT for learning
Chapter 10 Assessing reading for comprehension
Chapter 11 Selecting texts for teaching
Chapter 12 Teaching for comprehension: Text choice and planning
Chapter 13 Pedagogy and assessment opportunities
Chapter 14 Teaching for comprehension: pedagogy in practice