The Relationship Between Listening Comprehension and Reading Comprehension: Implications for Reading Aloud and Learning

Abstract

This paper describes the listening and reading comprehension skills of elementary school students, presents a classroom action research project that concludes that listening skills may transfer to reading skills, and recommends indirect teaching methods to enhance listening comprehension and learning during story hour. The study was designed to test whether instruction in three listening comprehension skills improved reading comprehension using those same skills. The recommended generic lesson plan for story hour is based on theory and research in listening and reading comprehension as well as the suggestions of teachers and librarians. It can be used by teachers, public librarians, school librarians, and parents.