Reading Comprehension Strategies

Purposes of Reading Comprehension Strategies

• To enhance understanding of the information in the book

• To improve how information is related to each other• To improve attention and concentration while

reading• To promote critical thinking, evaluation of reading

material• To enhance your memory

Advantages of Reading Comprehension Strategies

• Students who have read and understood their reading assignments are better prepared for class, leading to better participation and keep complete and accurate notes

• Performance on exams and quizzes may be greatly improved

• Once gaining proficiency, you will gain in confidence

Reading a Standardize Test

• When reading a standardized test you should do the following:– Underline any bold or key words– Number the main ideas and key points in the story

Continued Standardized Test

• You should do the following:o One should work quicklyo The easier ones are usually first, so don’t skip

themo Don’t skip questions after reading passageo Don’t add ones interpretations and facts to the

passage in order to answer the questionso The answers should be based on the information

and not personal opinion

Reading Foreign Language Material

• Use a foreign language dictionary to translate unfamiliar words or sites like www.babelfish.com

• Compile a list of new words and their translations • Add to the list as you go so that you don’t waste a lot

of time looking up words • Use context clues to guess the meaning of words

Staying Alert While Reading• The following tips allow a student to staff more

awake while reading:o Select an appropriate place to reado Eliminate all external distractionso Get motivated and develop and interest in the subject

mattero Get an adequate amount of sleepo Work for short intervals of time and take breakso Mix up your assignments or subjects to avoid

boredomo Reward yourself for completing each assignment

Writing Summaries Helps You Remember What You Read

• Write summaries allows you to reduce the amount of information needed to remember

• The following are four rules to summary writing:o Create a collapse list- If you see a list of things try

and think of a word or phrase for the whole name of the list. For example, if you saw a list of ears, eyes, nose, hair, arms you may say body parts instead

Reading Comprehension

• Writing Summaries continued…o Use topic sentences- Often authors use topic

sentences that summarize a whole paragraph in the first and last lines of a paragraph

o Get rid of unnecessary details- Some information is repeated in a book, eliminate it

o Collapse paragraphs- Some paragraphs just refer to previously stated information and can be eliminated

Reading Comprehension

• Strategies for creating interest in a subject

o Make the reading more novel by role playing or pretending to be the teacher

o Mix in the reading assignments with other sources within that subject area: books, magazines, journals, newspapers, Internet blogs, websites

o Consider how relevant the readings are to your lifeo Personalize the reading by linking it to your own beliefs o Use the information by thinking, writing and talking about ito Apply it by making connections between the readings and the lectureso Work with other students reviewing information and reading

assignments

Reading Comprehension

• Improving your concentration when you read:o Use an index card to move line by line through the

texto Eliminate all distractions, computer, iPod, TV,

radio, or too hot or coldo Get a good nights rest and eat a balanced dieto Avoid being distracted by other assignments and

make a list of assignment to do right after reading

Reading Comprehension

• Improving Concentration continued…o Understand the purpose, instructions and

expectations of the reading tasko Reward yourself if you are productiveo Read for 20-30 minutes , take a break, and then

read for another 20-30 minuteso Take notes while you reado Read aloud to yourself

Reading Comprehension

• Improving your motivation to read:o Be task oriented-Understand the purpose, instructions and

expectations of a reading assignmento Consider goals-A completion of reading assignment could

be a short term goal which helps you attain a long-term goal of graduation

o Work with others by developing a support systemo Relate how the reading relates to your life

Reading Comprehension

• General Approach to a Unknown Wordo Try and pronounce the unfamiliar word aloud and

then listen for anything familiar that may trigger your memory

o Read and reread the sentence to see if the words around it can help with the meaning g

o Try and break word down i.e... Prefixes, suffixes. root words

o Use a dictionary and make a small note in the margin next to the word

o Skip the word if you don’t become confused

Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension

• Imagine a picture of a word and meaning• Note- Make a sound-alike word• Connect the terms by making a short story

about it• Self-test by asking yourself the vocabulary

words and their meaning

Reading Comprehension

• When reading a textbook a student should understand how most textbooks are organized:

• First, the title is listed above a reading in order to peek a student’s interest

• Second, an introduction indicates the general purpose of the reading and hints at the main ideas

• Third, the chapter headings organize the material for the student

Reading Comprehension

• Illustrations further tell the reading what the main points are

• Summary recaps what the reading was about • The objectives are listed on the first page of

the chapter explaining the purpose of the reading

• Vocabulary lists are found at the end of the chapter and summarize important terms

Reading Comprehension

• Review questions at the end of the chapter tests you so that you remember the actual content

• End of chapter discussion questions allow a student to link new information with old information that contains prior knowledge

Reading Comprehension

Creative Mapping Strategy• This strategy helps you as a student to recognize

how information is organized and linked together• Steps to Creative Mapping

1)Read the text and list the main ideas and details2)Develop a visual image/picture of the main ideas

o Choose images that indicate an author’s main ideao The overall image has to relate the purpose of the writer o Connect the details to the main ideas and purpose of the

writer

Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension

RAP Strategy• Targets the main idea and details when you

reado Read one paragraph at a timeo Ask yourself what the main idea iso Paraphrase- The information is written in the

margins in your own words or use pictures to represent information

Reading Comprehension

REAP Strategyo Read the texto Encode- After reading the textbook, put the

information in your own wordso Annotate- write a brief summary that explains

or critique the textbooko Ponder- As a student, you need to consider

how the text relates to past readings or classroom activities

Reading Comprehension

PRSR Strategy• Preview- Read the title and introduction. What do you

know about the subject?• Read –Make questions from the chapter headings,

then read, and try and answer the questions • Self-test- Answer self-made questions, as well as,

discussion questions at the end of chapter• Review-Check answers to review questions against the

text

Reading Comprehension

Story Star Asks the questions:

Reading Comprehension

Gleaning Strategyo Read the Textbooko Identify the Main Ideas of the Assignmento Represent the main ideas using symbols, shorthand

and abbreviationso Record the information in note cardso Review information using complete sentences