24 Exciting Activities to Boost Reading Comprehension for ESL Students

There’s a point in time when both the teacher and the students need some refreshing ideas beyond worksheets with reading comprehension questions. This blog post is meant to do just that. You’ll find 24 exciting activities to boost your ESL students’ reading comprehension that your students will love. The best part is that they won’t take too much time out of your day and can be used with any text, including fictional stories and informational text. Are you ready to implement these engaging activities that'll get your English language learners practicing those reading skills?

1. Story Sequencing Relay

You’ll need a few short stories cut up into paragraphs (think test prep). Teams race against the clock to put story paragraphs in order. It's like a thrilling relay race but with story elements! This game amps up comprehension by focusing on story structure and coherence. Add different levels of stories for extra differentiation!

2. Character Charades

Who doesn't love a game of charades? Assign characters from a story to students, and they act out traits or actions silently. It's a blast and a sneaky way to practice learning character analysis and understanding.

3. Reading Journals: The Personal Comprehension Companion

Encourage students to keep reading journals. They jot down summaries, favorite quotes, or main character quirks after reading. It's like a personal conversation with the book, boosting summarization skills.

4. Plot Prediction Fun

Pause before the story's end and ask students to predict what happens next. Their theories get the gears of critical thinking and inference-making spinning based on clues from the text.

5. Book Clubs

Get those reading groups going! Each group reads the same book and they have conversations about it. It's like a mini literary discussion club, nurturing comprehension through shared insights. You can even add a comprehension worksheet to guide the discussion.

6. Story Retelling with a Creative Twist

Challenge students to retell the story but with a creative spin—change the setting, characters, or the ending. It's comprehension with a little creativity, making learning much more fun!

7. Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt: The Word Adventure

Pick a text and assign important words to hunt for within it. They find, define, and use the new vocabulary words in sentences. It's like a treasure hunt that boosts vocabulary and contextual understanding.

8. Reading Comprehension Board Games: The Fun Way to Comprehend!

Create board games based on stories. Fill them with comprehension questions or challenges linked to the plot, characters, or settings. It's reading comprehension with a playful twist!

9. Reader's Theater: Let the Story Come Alive

Assign roles and let students act out scenes from a story or play they've read. It's not just reading; it's embodying the text! This boosts dialogue comprehension and English-speaking confidence.

10. Plot Diagram Creation: Picture-Perfect Comprehension

Have students create visual plot diagrams showcasing the story's main elements like exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution. It's like painting a picture of the story's structure It’s the graphic organizer for your visual learners.

11. Literary Hot Seat: Q&A Showdown

Turn reading into a game show! Put students in the "hot seat" and fire off comprehension questions about the story. It's a high-energy quiz that boosts comprehension on the fly.

12. Character Collage: Bring Characters to Life

Get artsy! In this reading activity, have students create collages depicting characters' traits, feelings, and actions using images or magazine cutouts. It's like building a visual character profile!

13. Text-to-Self Connections: Relate and Reflect

Encourage students to connect the story to their own experiences or emotions. It's about making personal links to the text and enhancing comprehension through real-life connections. This can be done orally to boost speaking levels of English proficiency or in writing.

14. Word Swap Challenge: Synonyms Galore

Select key words from the text and challenge students to replace them with synonyms without altering the meaning. It's a word puzzle that deepens vocabulary understanding. Use a thesaurus if needed, but make sure they don’t change the meaning of the context.

15. Interactive Story Maps: Navigate the Narrative

Have students create digital or physical story maps, plotting out the story's journey with key events and character developments. It's like charting a course through the story!

16. Round Robin Reading: Ensemble Storytelling

Form a circle and let each student read a paragraph aloud, passing the story along. It's collaborative storytelling that boosts reading fluency and comprehension. Before doing this, make sure students feel comfortable doing so. Some students will ask to do it, while others are too uncomfortable and will be embarrassed when called upon.

17. Debate Discussions: Analyzing Perspectives

Divide students into teams and have debates on story-related topics or character actions. It's comprehension through critical thinking and defending viewpoints. Talk about developing language skills!

18. Plot Twist Writing Prompts: Unleash Creativity

Provide alternative plot twists and ask students to write or discuss how the story would change. It's imaginative thinking that sharpens comprehension skills. Ask what if…?

19. Symbolism Hunt: Decode Hidden Meanings

Explore symbols in the story and their deeper meanings. Hunt for symbols and discuss their significance, enhancing analytical comprehension.

20. Reading Response Artifacts: Show and Share

Allow diverse responses—artwork, poems, one-pagers, or dioramas—inspired by the reading. It's about expressing comprehension in creative ways.

21. Exit Ticket Reflections: Wrap-Up Insights

Use exit tickets where students jot down their main takeaways or lingering questions after reading. It's a concise way to assess comprehension and gather insights. It can be as writing simple sentences about key points or defining unfamiliar words.

22. Literature-Based Role-Playing Games: Story Adventures

Design role-playing games inspired by story elements. Students embody characters, make decisions, and explore story outcomes. It's comprehension through immersive, interactive play.

23. Audio Storytelling Sessions: Listen and Learn

Play audio versions of stories or have students record and share their own narrations. It's a dynamic way to enhance listening skills while comprehending the narrative flow. Many novels are available you YouTube or Audible.

24. Reader's Reflection Gallery: Visualizing Understanding

Create a "reflection gallery" where students showcase their understanding of a story or text through visual representations—drawings, posters, or digital artwork. It's a creative showcase of comprehension. Think one-pagers on steroids!

In a Nutshell

These reading comprehension activities offer the best ways to approach and strengthen reading comprehension skills while engaging ESL students in interactive, creative, and reflective practices in the ELAR and ESL classrooms.

They aren't just about reading—they're about making learning those essential skills a fun adventure! Modify and adapt them to suit your English learners' proficiency levels (or native language) and watch those comprehension skills skyrocket. The best part is that you can use them with different grade levels, even high school!

Looking for Free Reading Comprehension Activities? Try these!