SummarizingSticky NotesDr. BuckwellRereadingInferring

VisualizingSlowing DownBarack Obama

Writing in the MarginConnecting

What Do You

Wonder?Self-Questioning as a Reading Strategy

What are the goals of this session?

• Understand how self-questioning can improve reading comprehension

• Identify ways to teach, model, and practice self-questioning in 4th period.

• Identify ways to incorporate self-questioning into subject area classes.

What do experts say?

Children's writer Madeline L'Engle says, "Readers sometimes grossly underestimate their own importance." This is particularly true of less experienced readers. As developing readers realize their inner conversation and begin to focus on their own thoughts and questions, reading takes on new importance. When readers interact with the text by thinking about their questions, writing them down, and pondering answers, they comprehend at a much deeper level. Classrooms change when readers begin to believe their thinking matters.

-Stephanie Harvey

How does self-questioning improve comprehension?Asking questions:• Helps readers interact with text.• Sets a purpose for reading.• Helps readers clarify missing details.• Requires readers to go beyond the text.• May help students anticipate test

questions. “Questioning is the strategy that propels

readers on. Who, after all, would continue reading something if they had no questions about it?”

–Stephanie Harvey

When do we ask questions?• Before

– Look at cover, titles, features“I wonder who she is?”“When does this take place?”“I wonder what’s going to happen.”

• During– “Who is talking here?”– “What does that word mean?”– “Why did ____ do that?”– Why did the author put that in there?

• After– “I wonder what really happened to___.”– “What else can I find out about ____?”

What reading TOOLS help with self-questioning?• Previewing the Text to form questions

before reading

• Rereading/Reading Ahead to find answers to clarifying questions

• Marking the Text to record/remember questions

• Self-Questioning Self-Monitoring

Does it matter what questions you ask?• There ARE dumb questions: Questions

you already know the answer to!

• Clarifying Ponderable (simple, helps understand) (complex answer or none)

• Answerable Not answerable

In the text

In my head

Another source

Let’s Self-

QuestionArticle found at:http://abcnews.go.com/Business/SmallBiz/story?id=6873834&page=1

At your tables, sort your questions.

• Answerable Not answerable

• Clarifying Ponderable (simple, helps understand) (complex answer or none)

In the text

In my head

Another source

How can I start teaching self-questioning?• Model your own questions.• Ask students what they wonder.• Encourage them to ask questions.

• “Questions Only” Game

• Start with News Headlines or Book/Article Titles

Click on the image for a video clip! Skip ahead to 0:45 seconds!

News Headlines

• Serious:– Candlelight Tribute Planned at Dale Earnhardt, Inc.– Hickory Ridge Girls Advance– Rowan Sherriff Seeks Burglary Suspect

• Funny:– Local High School Dropouts Cut In Half – Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors– Iraqi Head Seeks Arms– Red Tape Holds Up New Bridge– Include your Children When Baking Cookies

What activities help students ask questions while reading in 4th period?• Model for students how you ask

questions while reading.• Read something together and record all

student questions while reading.• Sort /Label questions (index cards, sticky notes,

chart paper)

• Discuss questions• Independent Reading:

– Sticky notes– Margin writing– Question chart (don’t overuse!)

What activities help students ask questions while reading in my subject area?• Everything from 4th period!

• K-W-L (K-W-L-H)

• Double Entry JournalsI Learned I Wonder

Leopard seals eat penguins. Do they eat the feet?

Sources

• Harvey, S., & Goudvis, A. (2007). Strategies That Work: Teaching Comprehension for Understanding and Engagement. Portland: Stenhouse.

• Tovani, C. (2000). I Read It, But I Don't Get It: Comprehension Strategies for Adolescent Readers. Portland: Stenhouse.

• Scholastic Instructor: Questioning the Text http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4111

• www.independenttribune.com• http://www.guy-sports.com/humor/jokes/

jokes_newspaper_headlines.htm#Unusual,_Strange_and_Funny_Newspaper_Headlines_