“Wisdom is your perspective on life, your sense of balance, your understanding of how the various parts and principles apply and relate to each other.  It embraces judgement, discernment, comprehension.  It is a gestalt or oneness, and integrated wholeness.” – Stephen R. Covey

Part of the job of a teacher is to teach reading comprehension strategies to students.  Comprehension is more of an abstract skill and can be difficult to understand.

I think of comprehension as this: How can I give meaning to the words and make a connection to what I am reading?

Choice Literacy provides 7 strategies for reading comprehension.

• Activate background knowledge to make connections.
• Question the text.
• Draw inferences.
• Determine importance.
• Create mental images.
• Repair understanding when meaning breaks down.
• Synthesize information.

When a student asks questions, relies on prior knowledge, creates mental pictures, and strives to restore meaning, they gain a deeper understanding as the words become alive and the students make connections to the text.

Currently, I find myself traveling down the road to a greater understanding and revelation of God, His word, and meaning for my life.  As I set out to write on this topic, the thought occurred to me that I am applying comprehension strategies with my walk with God.

• I seek clarity by studying His word and asking questions about the meaning of scriptures and how they should be applied.  
• I rely on past experiences to make connections to my present situation(s) – what have I gained, what have I lost, and how did God prove Himself faithful? 
• I evaluate what is important – relationships/social calendar/health/serving – and focus and allocate my time on what matters to me. 
• When there is a break down of communication, I strive to make amends and repair the damage. 
• The synthesis creates revelation and transformation in my faith as it removes my unbelief.

“Synthesis is about organizing the different pieces to create a mosaic, a meaning, a beauty greater than the sum of each shiny piece.”  Ellin Keene & Susan Zimmermann from Mosaic of Thought.

The sum of each tiny piece is a heart fully trusting and believing God; a heart that has been restored.