Comprehension Reading Strategies

Using reading strategies helps readers not only engage with and understand

texts, but make connections with other texts, the world, and their own lives.

To get the most of out of literature, you have to do more than sit back and read the words.

You must think about what you read.

The strategies below describe the kinds of thinking that active readers do.

You may already be using some of these strategies.

Always read ALL of the questions before you begin responding to the comprehension questions.

Be sure to check for key words like

how, who, when, and explain.

STRATEGY #1

As you read, stop and think about what might happen next.

Make predictions on what will happen next in the plot,

and how the selection might end, then read on to see if you made good guesses.

As you continue reading, think about what you expected…have you changed your mind? Were your predictions accurate?

STRATEGY#2

I think he was

the one who…I bet at the end

she will…

He did that because…

STRATEGY#3

Make an accurate mind-movie

of what you are reading!

When reading informational/non-fiction text, like your social studies textbook,

it’s more like a newscast orwatching a slide show.

Read all of the headings! They tell you the main ideas.

Study the graphs and pictures! They’re trying to show you something.

Pay special attention to the words in color! They stand out for a reason.

Use all your tools! Table of Contents…Key Terms…Index…Timelines…Glossary

STRATEGY#4

Making Inferences Be a dialogue detective...

What did he say that told you something about him?

What do you think he meant? Be the Character…

Imagine that you magically became the character.

How would you express what the character was thinking? Actions speak louder than words…

How a character acts usually tells us who the character really is.

Is the character brave? Sneaky? Or lazy?

How is the character acting? Be an actor! Read it aloud…

How should you read your lines? Angrily? Sadly? Excitedly?

STRATEGY#5

Context Clues…for unfamiliar words

1. Re-read the selection.

2. What part of speech is it? (noun, verb, adjective, etc.)

3. Look for familiar word parts (prefixes, suffixes, root/base words).

4. Study the surrounding words.

5. Create some synonyms.

6. Replace the unfamiliar word with your synonym.

7. Repeat steps, if needed.

STRATEGY#6

Make ConnectionsHmmmm…What do I already know about this?

This reminds me of…

I’ve felt that way too!

I knew someone like this…

STRATEGY#7

Summarize

Who is the main character (protagonist)?

Who is the bad guy (antagonist)?

What challenge(s) did the protagonist face (conflict)?

What should you have learned/lesson/moral

from this selection?

STRATEGY #8