Why Do We Need Comprehension Strategies?
Comprehension strategies help us think about the text. Thinking about meaning while reading the words helps us understand what the author is saying. To comprehend, or understand, is the purpose of reading.
When and How do Readers Use Them?
Readers use comprehension strategies before they read, while they read, and after they read.
The resources below tell how you can practice them at home.
PRACTICE ORALLY SAY, "I PREDICT THAT....." FOR WHAT YOU THINK MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE BOOK AS YOU LOOK AT THE FRONT AND BACK COVER. AS YOU READ, STOP AND SAY, "I PREDICT THAT......." FOR WHAT YOU THINK MIGHT HAPPEN NEXT. THEN, CHECK YOUR PREDICTIONS. IF YOU WERE CORRECT, GREAT! IF YOU WERE INCORRECT, CHANGE YOUR THINKING. 
PRACTICE ORALLY WHEN SOMETHING IN THE TEXT REMINDS YOU OF SOMETHING IN YOUR OWN LIFE, OF ANOTHER TEXT, OR OF SOMETHING YOU KNOW ABOUT THE WORLD, YOU CONNECT THE NEW WITH THE KNOWN. SAY, "______________ REMINDS ME OF _______________ BECAUSE _______________________." 
PRACTICE ORALLY ASK A WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, HOW, OR WHY QUESTION BEFORE YOU READ, WHILE YOU READ, AND AFTER YOU READ. WHEN YOU FIND THE ANSWERS, SAY THEM OUT LOUD TO YOURSELF OR TO A FRIEND. 
PRACTICE ORALLY TO MAKE AN INFERENCE WHILE READING, YOU SAY TO YOURSELF OR A FRIEND, "THE TEXT SAYS ________________________________. I KNOW THAT, _________________________________. SO, I INFER THAT_____________________________." 
PRACTICE ORALLY WHEN YOU READ WORDS AND A PICTURE POPS UP IN YOUR BRAIN, YOU ARE VISUALIZING. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT YOUR "MIND PICTURE" BY SAYING WHAT YOU SEE._________." 
PRACTICE ORALLY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN THE TEXT, READ A LITTLE AT A TIME. YOU MAY STOP AT THE END OF A SENTENCE, PARAGRAPH, PAGE OR . THEN, SAY TO YOURSELF, "WHAT IS THE WHO IN THIS PART OF THE TEXT?" "WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS PART OF THE TEXT." IF YOU CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS, THEN CONTINUE READING. IF YOU CAN'T, GO BACK AND REREAD.  RETELLING
PRACTICE ORALLY TO RETELL WHAT YOU READ, THINK ABOUT THE STORY ELEMENTS AND BRIEFLY TELL THEM IN SEQUENCE, OR ORDER, AS IT HAPPENED IN THE STORY. FOR A FICTION STORY, INCLUDE THE CHARACTERS, SETTING, PROBLEM, EVENTS, AND SOLUTION. FOR A NONFICTION BOOK, TELL THE MAIN IDEA AND DETAILS. |
PRACTICE IN WRITING WRITE DOWN YOUR PREDICTION OR WHAT YOU THINK MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE BOOK AS YOU LOOK AT THE FRONT AND BACK COVER. AS YOU READ, STOP AND WRITE A PREDICTION FOR WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN NEXT. THEN, CHECK YOUR PREDICTIONS. IF YOU WERE CORRECT, GREAT! IF YOU WERE INCORRECT, CHANGE YOUR THINKING.
PRACTICE IN WRITING WRITE DOWN YOUR CONNECTION WHEN SOMETHING IN THE TEXT REMINDS YOU OF SOMETHING IN YOUR OWN LIFE, OF ANOTHER TEXT, OR OF SOMETHING YOU KNOW ABOUT THE WORLD. YOU CONNECT THE NEW WITH THE KNOWN WHEN YOU WRITE, "______________ REMINDS ME OF _______________ BECAUSE _______________________." 
PRACTICE IN WRITING WRITE A QUESTION THAT YOU ARE WONDERING AS YOU LOOK AT THE FRONT AND BACK COVER. WRITE A QUESTION YOU ARE WONDERING AS YOU READ THE TEXT. WRITE A QUESTION YOU MAY BE ASKING AFTER YOU READ THE TEXT. NOW, ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ON PAPER.
PRACTICE IN WRITING TO WRITE DOWN YOUR INFERENCE WHILE READING, YOU WRITE, "THE TEXT SAYS ________________________________. I KNOW THAT, _________________________________. SO, I INFER THAT_____________________________."
PRACTICE IN WRITING AS YOU READ, YOU CAN STOP AND WRITE A SENTENCE TO DESCRIBE YOUR "MIND PICTURE" OR, YOU CAN DRAW YOUR OWN PICTURE TO SHOW WHAT THE WORDS MEAN.
PRACTICE IN WRITING WHILE READING IN SHORT SECTIONS AND STOPPING AT THE END OF A SENTENCE, PARAGRAPH, OR PAGE, THINK ABOUT WHAT THE TEXT IS ABOUT. YOU CAN "TRACK YOUR THINKING" BY WRITING THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS ON A STICKY NOTE OR PAPER. "WHAT IS THE WHO IN THIS PART OF THE TEXT?" "WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS PART OF THE TEXT." IF YOU CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS, THEN CONTINUE READING. IF YOU CAN'T, GO BACK AND REREAD. 
PRACTICE IN WRITING WHEN YOU SUMMARIZE A FICTION STORY, THINK ABOUT THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION. WRITE YOUR SUMMARY USING THE WORDS IN THE BEGINNING/FIRST, NEXT, THEN, AFTER THAT, IN THE END TO TELL THE STORY IN SEQUENCE, OR ORDER. TO SUMMARIZE A NONFICTION BOOK, WRITE TWO IMPORTANT FACTS WITH DETAILS ABOUT THE TOPIC. |
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