| Students must practice reading skills before, | | | | are reading to gain understanding. |
| during, and after reading. | | | | - Determining Importance - Sifting between |
| Before | | | | important and insignificant information. |
| Before reading, students should try to get the 'big | | | | Students should stop and reflect on their reading. |
| picture' or main point of the text by making | | | | They should look for answers to questions that |
| predictions. They can do so by trying the | | | | they have, and stop to 'think' about and reflect |
| following: | | | | upon what they have just read. |
| Look at the title or cover and ask... | | | | Students can also make a list of key words, |
| - What do I already know about this topic? (i.e. | | | | summary sentences, and main ideas or themes. |
| background information) | | | | After |
| - What do I want to know? | | | | After students have finished reading, they should |
| - What is the text probably going to be about? | | | | skim over the pages one more time (depending |
| Next, students should preview the pages by | | | | on the genre and purpose for reading). |
| looking at the major headings, bold words, | | | | Students should consider asking themselves the |
| italicized words, subheadings, and picture captions. | | | | following questions: |
| Students should also look for diagrams, pictures, | | | | - What did I learn from my reading? |
| charts, and graphs in order to think about what | | | | - Can I explain what I just read to someone else? |
| these are trying to say about the topic. | | | | It is always a great idea for students to verbally |
| During | | | | explain or retell what they just read to someone |
| Students must incorporate several reading skills | | | | else. Also, it is highly recommended that students |
| and strategies while reading. | | | | write a short summary of the text after reading. |
| - Inferring - Saying 'I think', 'I believe', and 'Maybe' | | | | By retelling (either verbally or in written work) |
| while reading. | | | | text they have just read, students will be able to |
| - Making Connections- Connecting the text to | | | | synthesize (i.e. put everything together) and make |
| their experiences, or other text. | | | | meaning of the material. |
| - Asking Questions - Asking questions to clarify | | | | Make sure your child uses these strategies |
| meaning. | | | | before, during, and after reading in order to |
| - Visualizing - Picturing in their minds what they | | | | improve reading comprehension strategies. |