Reading Strategies I

Whenever possible, it’s advisable to marry reading with writing, which is why a Writer’s Notebook is so important.  It’s in this section of their binder that students should be prompted to make predictions, ask questions about words and the text, and complete summaries as they make their way through a text.

One sound regime might be (in the notebook for a reading session):

• Pre-reading: Make a prediction about the day’s reading based on last session’s reading

• During reading: Ask questions about the text/create summaries (instead of checking for comprehension orally)

• Post-reading: Go back to prediction/answer questions/create end-of-story summary/create open-ended questions for discussion

Students should also be permitted to use their own Writer's Notebooks on tests and quizzes.  In this case students will be more likely to take notes, and this will lead to discussions and questions bent on the open-ended variety as simple recall questions can be subordinated to comprehension checks and review quizzes...not to mention that because students are writing what you speak and/or write, their Writer's Notebooks will become valuable resources for all of you as well.