This phrase always stops me in my tracks.
If someone is reading (or says she's reading, or others say she's
reading, or school claims she's reading) but she's not "comprehending
what she reads" then HOW on earth, in any small way, did anyone
think to claim it was "reading"?
Phonics.
That's what.
Damned phonics.
I can read French and Spanish. I could probably read German, badly.
Of French I would glean a bit. Of Spanish I'd know very, very
vaguely what I was reading about but wouldn't be able to translate it.
Of German I wouldn't know a damned thing.
Would I really be reading?
If I just run my eyes across it and make out what sounds I can, would
that be reading?
If I read aloud (which is what I was first thinking two paragraphs
up), would I really be reading?
If I sound out, according to phonetic rules, Spanish, but I don't
understand enough Spanish to comprehend it (unless it's really very
basic and about grocery stores or cars or something lyrical about
beso or corazon)... I don't think I'm reading squat.
Reading HAS to have comprehension.
Sandra