The Multi Age Program at

     Harbor Heights Elementary
Gig Harbor, Washington

Reading Strategies and Information

READING

Reading is more than saying the words or getting from the beginning of the book to the end.  To be successful readers, children need to be able to understand text–

both the text they read and the text they listen to.  If they don’t unlock meaning as they read, the words are just babble and they will never read well or enjoy reading.  So,  HOW CAN PARENTS HELP?  You can help by practicing with your child the strategies good readers use to comprehend text.

1.  Use fix up strategies when your child doesn’t understand words, phrases, or longer passages.  These strategies include decoding strategies, rereading, skipping ahead, asking questions, using a dictionary/internet search and adjusting reading speed.

2.  Metacognition–A big word for being aware of your thinking.  Parents can share their thinking: “When I read this part, I was thinking...”  Before reading talk about the purpose for reading the text and preview it.  During reading, monitor understanding.   After reading, check your child’s understanding of what they read by summarizing, retelling, or telling the lesson learned or important ideas.

3.  Create mental images.  In school we’ve called it visualizing–using all of your senses to put what you’re reading into a movie in your head.  It keeps you engaged in what you’re reading.

4.  Use background knowledge (schema/connections).  Readers comprehend better when they actively think about and apply their own knowledge and experiences to what they’re reading.  Have your child make connections by asking:

*What does this book remind you of? or How can you connect what you read to your own life?

          *Does this book remind you of another book?

*Can you connect what you’ve read to things that have happened or are happening in the world?

5.  Ask questions.  Questions clarify confusion, focus attention on what’s important, and stimulate further interest in a topic.  Parents can:

          *Ask “I wonder” questions (open ended).

          *Stop and predict what will happen next.

          *Ask your child to come up with questions before reading about the topic.

          *Discuss questions you still have after reading.

6.  Make inferences.  Good readers use prior knowledge and information from what they read to make predictions, answer questions, interpret, and draw conclusions.  Inferring happens when readers can take what they know and what is written in the book to “read between the lines.”  Help your child to figure out things the author doesn’t say directly.    Parents can ask/discuss:

          *How did you know that?

          *Why did you think that would happen?

*How do you think the character feels?  Why did the character act like that?

          *Does it remind you of anything?

          *Discuss the plot or theme.  What do you think this was about?

7.  Determine the most important ideas or themes.  This is a critical skill for students as they encounter textbooks and nonfiction.   Students have to decide and remember what is important from the material they read.  Parents can help by discussing what your child knows about the topic and what they would like to learn.   After reading, discuss the main idea, important information, or lessons/theme learned.

8.  Synthesize.  Put the puzzle together: use all the above strategies and link your background knowledge with new information you’ve read so you can retell and make it your own!  Parents can have their children retell what is important in a way that makes sense, without telling too much.  You can also ask your child if their thinking has changed from reading the piece.

Now enjoy reading and discussing with your child!  And don’t forget, reading aloud is the foundation for literacy development.

Discussion ideas while you’re reading…

*What the book will be about…

*What you hope to learn…

*What you find interesting or surprising…

*How the author makes you feel… and why…

*Your reaction to the characters…

*How the book reminds you of your life… or other books…

*What the book makes you think about…

*What you don’t understand, find confusing, or have questions about during your reading…

*What you notice about the illustrations…

*Why you think the author wrote the book or what you think the author’s “message” might be…

*What you learned… or what you want to remember…

*Places where the author gives good descriptions…

Last Updated: 03/13/2009 12:44 PM

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