• 9 Comprehension Strategies Good Readers Use

    Activate Prior Knowledge

    The learner brings a unique set of experiences and knowledge to reading (schemata).

    Determining Important Ideas

    Readers identify key ideas or themes as they read.

    They distinguish important and unimportant information based on their purpose for reading.

    Connections

    Readers can make three types of connections:

    Text-to-self – relating the text to something personal

    Text-to-text – relating the text to another book

    Text-to-world – relating text to events going on in world

    Drawing Inferences During and After Reading Readers make assumptions based on clues from the text and their own prior knowledge. They “read between the lines” to draw conclusions.

    Visualizing

    Readers can create pictures or images in their minds based on the text.

    Repairing Understanding

    Readers used strategies to “fix-up” confusion while they read. Examples: rereading, using context clues, summarize.

    Asking Questions

    Readers ask questions to clear up confusion, to make predictions, and to wonder about the author’s purpose.

    Synthesizing Information

    Readers combine new information with what they already know to form a new idea about the text. Readers set aside irrelevant and repetitive information in order to change their thinking about part of the text.

    Predicting          Readers make an educated guess about what will happen next based on clues from the text and recognize misconceptions.

     

    Strategies to Use Before, During and After Reading

     

    Before Reading

    During Reading

    After Reading

     

    Questioning (teacher and/or students) and discussing using prior knowledge, textual clues (title, heading, summary)

    Teacher-Directed

    Questioning/predicting

    Role-taking

    Playing doubting/ believing

    Discussions, retelling (from different points of view), responding to any before

     

    Brainstorming

    Using textual clues

    Using topic of article

    Using key words or concepts

    Using an analogy or problem

    Students Independently

    Make personal connections

    Use prior knowledge

    Predict/support

    /adjust/confirm

    Identify confusing parts

    Visualize

    Self-Monitor for Understanding

    Marking or glossing text

    Summarize

    Synthesize

    Taking notes

    Writing questions

    Partner reading

    Keeping a reading journal

    Enactments

    Debate, panel discussion, dramatization, simulation, role-play

     

    Extended Brainstorming +

    Categorizing + Mapping using material from text, topic, key words

    Oral Presentation

    Demonstrations, talks

     

    Writing

    Nonstop; focused or generalized Note making, writing or answer questions, mapping or revising map

    Previously made literacy or informational text

    Making up test

     

    Previewing the Text

    Examining clues to overall setting purposes

    Questions

    Selecting appropriate reading strategies

    Teacher/Student reading aloud

     

    Writing

    Non-stop; focused or generalized

    Jotting or note making/Questions

    Pretests or questionnaire

    Reading

    Related material

    Rereading text from different perspectives

     

    Enacting

    Role-play, improvisation, dramatization, debate, etc.

    Constructing

    Sketching

    Drawing

     

    Constructing

    Sketching, drawing, building, viewing film, video, etc., on topic reading while writing.

    Viewing

    Slides, filmstrips, video, film, etc., related to text