Improving Reading Comprehension With Sq3r Support Strategies

ve teachers use a variety of ways to help theirLearned (after reading) in the third column. The
students improve reading comprehension. OneWant column is the place where students develop
way that continues to attract attention is SQ3Rquestions they would like to have answered as
(Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review). On thethey learn from the reading. When students
plus side, this multi-step plan makes sensegenerate some of their own questions, they build
because it combines before, during, and aftermotivation to learn and that motivation
reading activities to help students become activelyencourages understanding.
involved in reading to comprehend. Unfortunately,During Reading activities help young adolescents
this system can also overwhelm readers with itsunderstand and manage the complexities of
complexity. Teachers need to continually providereading. Teachers should use think alouds to
scaffolding as students go through SQ3R withdemonstrate what details good readers think
modeling, guided instruction, and adaptations toabout and what actions they take during reading.
encourage all young adolescents to learn fromStudents can practice think alouds for each other
reading. When middle school teachers weave thein paired conversations or to themselves through
following adaptations into classroom use of SQ3R,journaling.
they support students to become better readers.Recite and Review are the After Reading parts
Survey and Question are the Before Readingof SQ3R. They help students summarize and
components of SQ3R. They are used to activateorganize ideas so they can be remembered and
background knowledge, provide purposes forapplied. Teachers should model the process of
reading, and motivate students to want to readretelling and encourage students to retell the
the assignments. There are also other wayspassage in their own words to develop
students can prepare to read actively within thecomprehension. But don't limit the retelling to
SQ3R structure, with strategies clarifying what itwriting. Allow students to draw pictures to identify
means to Survey and Question. One strategy ismain ideas, portray key concepts in graphic
the use of an Anticipation Guide which is a set oforganizers, or capture the real meaning of the
generalizations related to the theme or main ideareading in as few words as possible. Finally, teach
of the selection. Students agree or disagree withyoung adolescents the value of rereading. Give
the statements which focus on significant ideasstudents a demonstration of how understanding
they will encounter in reading. For example,can increase with a second or third reading.
"People who do cruel things can be good people"Reading to learn from text is a vital skill for middle
could be used with other statements to introduceschool students. In the ideal middle school, early
concepts before reading The Diary of Anne Frank.adolescents get direct reading instruction from
A KWL (Know-Want-Learn) Chart is anotherboth specialized reading teachers and the content
Before Reading activity that can be used underteachers in all subject areas. Teachers must work
the umbrella of SQ3R. Students write what theytogether and use multiple strategies to help middle
Know in the first in column, what they Want tograde students improve comprehension as they
learn in the second column, and what theyread a variety of materials.