READING STRATEGIES

STRATEGY 1:  Predict/Infer

            Use this strategy before and during reading to help make predictions about what happens next or what you’re going to learn

·        Think about the title, the illustrations, and what you have read so far.

·        Tell what you think will happen next-or what you will learn.  Thinking about what you already know about the subject may help.

·        Try to figure out things the author does not say directly.

STRATEGY 2:  Phonics/Decoding

            Use this strategy during reading when you come across a word you don’t know.

·        Look carefully at the word.

·        Look for word parts that you know and think about the sounds for the letters.

·        Blend the sounds to read the word.

·        Ask yourself if this is a word you know.  Does it make sense in the sentence?

·        If not, ask yourself if there is something else you can try.  Is it a name, should I ask someone?  Should I look in the dictionary?”

STRATEGY 3:  Monitor/Clarify

            Use this strategy during reading whenever you’re confused about what you are reading.

·        Ask yourself if what you’re reading makes sense-or if you are learning what you need to learn.

·        If you don’t understand something, REREAD, LOOK AT THE ILLUSTRATIONS, OR READ AHEAD.

STRATEGY 4:  Question

            Use this strategy during and after reading to ask questions about important ideas in the story.

·        Ask yourself questions about important ideas in the story.

·        Ask yourself if you can answer these questions.

·        If you can’t answer the questions, REREAD AND LOOK FOR ANSWERS IN THE TEXT.

STRATEGY 5:  EVALUATE

            Use this strategy during and after reading to help you form an opinion about what you read.

·        Think about how the author makes the story come alive and makes you want to read it.

·        Think about what was entertaining, informative, or useful about the selection.

·        Think about how well you understood the selection and whether you enjoyed reading it.

STRATEGY 6:  Summarize/ Story Retell

            Use this strategy after reading to summarize what you read.

·        Think about the characters.  Who is the main character?

·        Think about where the story takes place.

·        Think about the problem and the steps the main character uses to solve the problem.

·        Think about what happens in the beginning, middle and end of the story.

Remember, these strategies can help you become a better reader, but you must practice using them before, during and after you read!

Information source:  Houghton Mifflin Company, Wilson and Project READ