• “Isn't it odd how much fatter a book gets when you've read it several times?" Mo had said..."As if something were left between the pages every time you read it. Feelings, thoughts, sounds, smells...and then, when you look at the book again many years later, you find yourself there, too, a slightly younger self, slightly different, as if the book had preserved you like a pressed flower...both strange and familiar.”
    Teaching Comprehension Strategies to Your Child
     
     Before Reading

    • Set a Purpose for Reading: think about why the piece is being read.
    • Preview the Book: look at the bold face type, graphics, and captions.
    • Activate Background Knowledge: think about what you already know about the content.
    • Predict: think about what might happen or what information you will learn.

    During Reading

    • Cross-check: ask “Does this look right? Sound right? Make sense?
    • Reread: when problems occur go back and start reading again.
    • Predict and Confirm: ask “What do I think will happen next? Was I right?”
    • Connect Background Knowledge: ask “Is the information similar to what I already know? Do I need to learn more?”
    • Stop and Review:  stop and think about what has happened so far.

    After Reading

    • Retell and Summarize: tell someone or write about what happened in the text.
    • Draw Conclusions: think about your predictions. “Were your questions answered? Have you gained new information?”
    • Reread: clarify to help your understanding.
    • Discuss and Respond: talk with someone about what you’ve read. Look back at the text to defend your opinions.

    There’s a lot to it, isn’t there? Fortunately these strategies become easier with practice. Strategic readers use these strategies automatically as they read to enhance their understanding and enjoyment of texts.