Reading Strategies

Reading Strategies for All Learners

Many times we can tell about a book by its cover and other times we have to look at the title.  Many times however we need a bit more help to connect, review and even evaluate what we have read. Below you will find the reading strategies that you need to be a successful reader.  Be ready to use this information in class.

Predict: This helps you to anticipate events, appreciate less obvious parts of a story and put together clues so you can make an educated guess about what will happen to characters. Does the title tell you something about the story?  The characters?  Does it match your thoughts? 

Connect: Connect the people, events, and setting in the story to those in your life or from another story you have read. Ask yourself  "How might I feel if I were them? What is historically happening, or what story does this remind me of?"

Question: Ask yourself questions. Do I understand what I just read? Why did he say that? Does this action affect the overall conflict? 

Visualize:  Form pictures of the setting, the characters, and the actions in your own head, and then ask: Can I see the characters? What descriptions are being used for setting and scene?

Evaluate: As you read, form opinions and make judgments about the characters. Ask yourself: Is this realistic? What style is the author using, or does it even make sense? 

Review: Summarize the related events. Say to yourself: What events have happened? What caused the event? Can the character fix the event?

Respond: Respond while you are reading it. Ask things like: Did the character really do that? Why did the author use that point of view? What would happen if we changed the date?

We'll be reading a story tomorrow. Please make sure you come prepared to discuss these strategies as we read.