Reading Strategies

Before you Read:

• Search the Internet for book summaries and reviews.  Pay particular attention to discussion of author message and theme.
• Pre-read any guided reading questions available for the chapter or section you are planning to read
  • You may obtain these from your teacher, or utilize online resources.  Often, you can find teaching guides for the book, which may include summaries, discussion questions, and guided reading questions.  This will help you focus on what is important and meaningful as you read.  When you search the book title in Google, these will come up, usually toward the top of the search.  They may have titles such as Signet Classics or Penguin Guide.  They are often PDF’s, and can be saved or printed.
  • If you are provided with vocabulary, pre-read it so that the words are fresh in your mind as you begin reading and will stand out from the text.

 

As you Read:

• Take notes with the guided reading questions in mind.  Utilize a structured note sheet that assists you in keeping in mind the elements most important for understanding and recall of the material, including plot, character development, theme, and symbolism.
• After you have finished a chapter or section, review the guided questions to ensure that your notes have covered all of the questions.  If something is missing, revisit the chapter to locate the information, but do not feel compelled to re-read the chapter in its entirety.  This may not always be possible due to time constraints, so use your time wisely and focus on what is important.
• Whether or not you are required to define vocabulary, keep a dictionary or phone app readily available for looking up unfamiliar words.  Make sure your definition reflects appropriately the context (the way the word is used in the written work) and part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, or adverb).  Jot the definition of the challenging word on your note sheet or a vocabulary sheet.
• Take note of any questions or confusions you have that can be asked of your teacher or researched further.

 

After you Read:

• Remind yourself of what is important about what you have just read.  Look over your notes, particularly focusing on theme and character development.  Re-read the guided reading questions to ensure that each question is answered completely in your notes.
• As you revisit your notes after each section or chapter, take note of recurring themes or messages and jot down conclusions you can draw about the author based upon these themes.