STRATEGIES TO BECOME A BETTER READER

Here are important reading strategies students can use before, during and after reading:

 

Before Reading

Predict what the book is about from the title.  Set a purpose for reading.  Ex.  I am going to read this book because I want to learn more about animals. Take a picture walk through the book.  Ask, What is happening in the pictures?

 

During Reading

• Visualize - make a movie in your head just like you do when listening to a story.
   

• Question - think about the story, asking yourself who, what, when, where, why, how.
   

• Clarify - understand new words - figure out words using print strategies

  • Use finger to point under each word to keep track of where you are reading

  • Use beginning sounds to figure out words

  • Use ending sounds to figure out words

  • Use pictures on the page to help figure out a word

  • Use word chunks (group of letters in a pattern like _ack, _ight)

  • Look for a smaller word within the word

  • Read to the end of the sentence.  Sometimes the word that
    makes sense pops right up!

  • Reread the sentence or passage to increase understanding
     

• Make predictions - "What happens next?"
   

• Make connections

• What other story is like this one? (Text to Text Connection)

• Have you felt the same away as a character in the story?  Did something similar happen to you? (Text to Self Connection)

• Does it help you think about something in real life not directly connected to you?  (Text to World Connection)

 

After Reading

• React - What did you think of the story?

  • How did it make you feel?
     

• Summarize

  • What was most important in the story?  One way to do this is to think:
            ~ Someone
            ~ Did something
            ~ But (there was a problem)
            ~ Then (the problem gets solved)
            ~ Finally (what happened at the end?)