Ready to Read! : Strategies for Reading Nonfiction TextsRED4348: Critical Assignment #1

Chelsea DanieleMarch 31, 2016

While you read:

Your teacher will help you practice different strategies that you will use while you read.

When will you use the strategies?

Once you master the skill, you will be able to do it without the help of your teacher!

**Remember: Practice makes perfect!**

BeforeDuring& Afteryou read

BEFORE you read:

“What could I possibly do before reading?” GREAT QUESTION!

There are certain steps you need to take before you read to

activate your brain!

Let’s check them out!

1. Page Walk/

THIEVES

Page Walk: Without actually reading the passage, flip through the pages of the book or article.

By doing this simple step, you are waking up your brain and getting yourself prepared for reading!

THIEVES: T.H.I.E.V.E.S. stands for:

T – Title H – Headings I – Introduction E – Every First Sentence V – Visuals and Vocabulary E – End of text S – Summarize Thinkings/ Findings

*KEEP IN MIND: These are the things you should look for while you are doing your Page Walk!*

2. Prior Knowledge

Prior Knowledge: Your Prior Knowledge is your It’s something you have already experienced or

learned! EXAMPLE:

Last summer you went on a vacation to Washington D.C. Today in school your teacher says you will be reading a nonfiction article titled “Our Nation’s Capital”.

Now, you may get super excited because you can use your personal experiences to help you learn more about Washington D.C.!

Background Knowledge

3. Vocabulary

Vocabulary is an important part of comprehension!

Your teacher may review certain words with you before you read that are difficult to understand or suited for the text.

He/ She may use definitions, synonyms or even pictures to help you understand the words!

EXAMPLE: “Before we learn about the Washington Monument, it is

important that we discuss what a ‘monument’ is…”

4. Graphic Organizer

A KWL Chart is an excellent tool for reading! K: What I already Know W: What I Want to Know L: What I Learned

5. Predict

Now we have enough information to PREDICT or GUESS what our article is about!

Now, lets START READING!

WHILE you read:

The next set of strategies will be used DURING the reading process.

These strategies will help keep you focused and engaged!

1. Mark Up Your Texts

I’m sure you’ve heard this before! Maybe your teachers ask you to record text evidence? Either way, it is the same concept!

To ensure active reading, make sure to… Underline Key Words Circle important dates and phrases Take notes Use symbols for parts of the text you may be

confused or excited about!?

2. Get Connected

PUT YOURSELF IN THE STORY! This will allow you to make connections between ideas,

concepts and characters. AND… Visualize the places and events!

ideas, concepts and characters.places and events!

3. Read Between the Lines

The author doesn’t always include all the details. This is true even for Nonfiction texts.

This gives the reader a chance to be creative

andmake inferences!

4. Take a Break!

Take frequent breaks if you need to.Use this time to ASK your teacher QUESTIONS and to SUMMARIZE what you have learned so far!

5. Unknown Words

What do you do if you come across a word you don’t know?

1. Search for 2. Check a Dictionary (or thesaurus) 3. Ask your neighbor or teacher for help

You would be surprised how much it helps with your comprehension!

CONTEXT CLUES

AFTER you read:

Well, you made it to the FINAL STEPS!That must mean we can just close the book and we’re done, right? Not quite! We have just a few more steps to complete

the process. These next strategies will help us understand what we just read!

Let’s read on to find out more!

1. Main Idea/ Moral

Identify and discuss the MAIN IDEA of the story or article.

Every story/article has a Main Idea, yes, even the passages in your History Textbook have a main idea.

Not all stories/articles have a moral or lesson. So you need to ask yourself:

Was there a moral to the story/article? If so, what is it?

MAIN IDEA

2. Compare and

Contrast

Now is a good time to break out that KWL Chart that we used earlier!

At this time, you should already have the first two columns filled out. After you fill out the LAST column, you will find that it is easy to Compare and Contrast the information you already knew with the new information you just learned!

3. Review Questions

and Predictions

Were all of your questions answered?

Were any of your

questions answered?

predictions correct?

4. Check for Understandi

ng

Did you understand everything? Are you still unsure of something? You may need to REREAD the text and REVIEW your notes.

You might be surprised with what you missed!

5. Sum it Up!

Now that you are coming to a close, it is time to SUMMARIZE everything

you have learned!

Here are some questions you can ask yourself:

What was the story about? Did I learn anything new? What was my favorite part?

ReferencesBursuck, W. D. (2011). Teaching Reading to Students Who Are at Risk or Have Disabilities.

Boston: Pearson.Close Reading: THIEVES Reading Strategy. (n.d.). Retrieved from The Curriculum Corner: http://www.thecurriculumcorner.com/thecurriculumcorner456/close-reading-thieves-reading-strategy/KWL Chart. (n.d.). Retrieved from Inspired Elementary: http://www.inspiredelementary.com/2015/10/kwl-chart.html

References for Images

(n.d.). Retrieved from http://a66c7b.medialib.glogster.com/media/6c/6c00093e5aaf4e9e3c7e9a6b83c6e9f45cbb1b4ecb841f4d2f583af0704d7e29/clipart-a.jpg(n.d.). Retrieved from http://clipartfreefor.com/cliparts/files/stack-of-books-images-9T4LeMrTE.png(n.d.). Retrieved from http://hiwashingtondc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/1-Photo.jpg(n.d.). Retrieved from http://clipartion.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/pictures-of-people-thinking1-830x831.jpeg(n.d.). Retrieved from http://cdn.boulevards.com/imgs/efm-hotel-billboard-washingtondc.com.jpg(n.d.). Retrieved from http://worldartsme.com/images/hip-hip-hooray-clipart-1.jpg(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.clker.com/cliparts/0/6/8/6/11971488431079343407barretr_Pencil.svg.hi. png(n.d.). Retrieved from http://thumbs.gograph.com/gg58655401.jpg(n.d.). Retrieved from http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/take-break-15710721.jpg(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.featurepics.com/FI/Thumb300/20131116/Read-Between-Lines-2852414.jpg(n.d.). Retrieved from http://f.tqn.com/y/webclipart/1/S/i/8/6/dictionary.png(n.d.). Retrieved from http://clipartsign.com/upload/2016/02/09/student-at-teachers-desk-clip-art-student-at-teachers-desk-2.png(n.d.). Retrieved from https://kellyhines.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/vocabulary.gif(n.d.). Retrieved from http://2.bp.blogspot.com/- x_qBzHrMoCQ/UywFFhHqDwI/AAAAAAAABmY/4BbQhakeTaI/s1600/1.png(n.d.). Retrieved from http://worldartsme.com/images/footprints-clipart-1.jpg(n.d.). Retrieved from https://openclipart.org/download/217513/Crystal_ball.svg(n.d.). Retrieved from https://angelfishdiary.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/question_makrs_cutie_mark_by_ rildraw-d4byewl.png(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.clipartbest.com/cliparts/RiA/Aa5/RiAAa5yrT.png