Activities to enhance reading comprehension Alajuela English Advisory Ronald Vargas Chavarría 2008 Taken and adapted from

Activities to enhance Activities to enhance reading comprehensionreading comprehension

Alajuela English AdvisoryAlajuela English Advisory

Ronald Vargas ChavarríaRonald Vargas Chavarría

20082008

Taken and adapted Taken and adapted fromfromwww.edhelper.comwww.edhelper.com//

Main ideaMain idea

A.A. Read the paragraph and the main Read the paragraph and the main idea for the paragraph. idea for the paragraph. Underline Underline the details that support the main the details that support the main

idea:idea: Main Idea: A new school is being built.Main Idea: A new school is being built.

They are building a new school. It is near They are building a new school. It is near my house. Every day, I watch the workers. my house. Every day, I watch the workers. They drive huge tractors. I watch them They drive huge tractors. I watch them push a ton of dirt. They have a big crane. push a ton of dirt. They have a big crane. It helps them place tall beams. The It helps them place tall beams. The workers build walls. They are using brick. workers build walls. They are using brick. Every day, it looks more like a school. Every day, it looks more like a school. Mom says I will go there in the fall! Mom says I will go there in the fall!

B.B. Read the paragraph and then Read the paragraph and then write the main idea of the write the main idea of the

paragraph:paragraph: My favorite dress is yellow. It has a My favorite dress is yellow. It has a

white ribbon that ties in the middle. It white ribbon that ties in the middle. It has lace by the neck. It also has lace at has lace by the neck. It also has lace at the bottom. I wore it for my aunt's the bottom. I wore it for my aunt's wedding. I was the flower girl. Mom wedding. I was the flower girl. Mom said I looked as pretty as the bride!said I looked as pretty as the bride!

The main idea in this passage is:The main idea in this passage is:__________________________________________________

C.C. Read the paragraph and then Read the paragraph and then select the main idea for the select the main idea for the

paragraph:paragraph: It was backward day at school. The students had It was backward day at school. The students had

to do things backward. Some of them wore their to do things backward. Some of them wore their T-shirts backward. They took a test before they T-shirts backward. They took a test before they studied the lesson! Dessert was served first studied the lesson! Dessert was served first instead of last. They tried to walk home instead of last. They tried to walk home backward, but they bumped into each other and backward, but they bumped into each other and fell down.fell down.

A A Dessert is supposed to Dessert is supposed to come last.come last.

C C It is hard to do things It is hard to do things backward.backward.

B B The students had a The students had a backward day.backward day.

D D Students failed their Students failed their teststests..

The main idea in this The main idea in this passage is:passage is:

D.D. Write the main idea of the paragraph Write the main idea of the paragraph and then and then underline the details that underline the details that support the main ideasupport the main idea..

I have a dog whose name is Shelby. I've I have a dog whose name is Shelby. I've had Shelby for five years. She is very had Shelby for five years. She is very pretty with long brown hair. She has pretty with long brown hair. She has turned into my best friend. She plays turned into my best friend. She plays with me, sleeps with me, and goes on with me, sleeps with me, and goes on walks with me. I am so glad to have her walks with me. I am so glad to have her around. I love her.around. I love her.

The main idea in this passage is:The main idea in this passage is:__________________________________________________________

E.E. Read the paragraph. Write the topic, Read the paragraph. Write the topic, the main idea, and two details that the main idea, and two details that

support the main idea.support the main idea. John held the ball in his hands. He bounced it John held the ball in his hands. He bounced it

slowly on the ground. Once. Twice. He crouched slowly on the ground. Once. Twice. He crouched low and then jumped. The ball flew into the air. low and then jumped. The ball flew into the air. Up, up, up, it went. Then down, down, down, into Up, up, up, it went. Then down, down, down, into the basket. the basket. "Yes!" he yelled. "Nothing but net!""Yes!" he yelled. "Nothing but net!"

Topic (1-2 words): Topic (1-2 words):

main idea: (main idea: (one one sentence) sentence)

detail #1: detail #1: ((piece of piece of information)information)

detail #2: detail #2:

Vocabulary Vocabulary

The voters were so upset about the The voters were so upset about the outcome of the election that a skirmish outcome of the election that a skirmish broke out and the police had to break it broke out and the police had to break it up.up.

Using the explanation clue, the word Using the explanation clue, the word skirmishskirmish in this sentence means in this sentence means

  fightfight   hurricanehurricane

sunshine sunshine creature creature

We shopped at the emporium, which is as We shopped at the emporium, which is as large as the shopping center, for shampoo large as the shopping center, for shampoo and bath soap.and bath soap.

Using the comparison clue, the word emporium in this sentence means

  amusement park amusement park   large storelarge store

  bathroom bathroom library library

Our country's highest politician, the Our country's highest politician, the president, has the job of making sure our president, has the job of making sure our country stays safe.country stays safe.

In this sentence, the word In this sentence, the word politicianpolitician meansmeans

    manman  boss  boss  golfer  golfer    elected personelected person

Mom and Dad were trying to decide how to update the family Mom and Dad were trying to decide how to update the family room. They couldn't agree on most things like what furniture room. They couldn't agree on most things like what furniture to buy. Finally, after many discussions, they at least agreed to buy. Finally, after many discussions, they at least agreed on what hue they wanted the walls to be painted.on what hue they wanted the walls to be painted.

Write a synonym for the word Write a synonym for the word huehue..

Synonym: Synonym:

Write a word to complete the Write a word to complete the sentence.sentence.

We climbed the ________ to have a We climbed the ________ to have a picnic. I liked eating my hot dog.picnic. I liked eating my hot dog.

Circle the word that does not Circle the word that does not belong.belong.

knowledge knowledge learninlearning g

wisdom wisdom incomprehensincomprehension ion

Although Mary was willing to play in the snow, Although Mary was willing to play in the snow, Jack was reluctant because he was so cold.Jack was reluctant because he was so cold.

Using the antonym clue, the word Using the antonym clue, the word reluctantreluctant in this sentence meansin this sentence means

  readready y

  not not willinwillin

gg willinwillin

g g excitedexcited

Multiple Multiple MeaningMeaning

Read the sentence. Pick the choice Read the sentence. Pick the choice that uses the underlined word in that uses the underlined word in the same way as in the original the same way as in the original

sentence.sentence. Lack of money Lack of money drovedrove Joyce to Joyce to

sell the farm.sell the farm.

A.A. The blizzard The blizzard drovedrove Marlene to Marlene to decide to stay home and be alone decide to stay home and be alone on Christmas.on Christmas.

B.B. Dad Dad drovedrove us to the mall but us to the mall but Mom said she would take us home.Mom said she would take us home. C.C. The family The family drovedrove three hours to three hours to see the ocean.see the ocean.

The employee put a caution sign up so The employee put a caution sign up so no one would no one would slipslip on the wet floor. on the wet floor.

AA The messenger handed the The messenger handed the slipslip of of paper to the teacher.paper to the teacher.

BB The man will The man will slipslip on the wet floor if on the wet floor if he's not careful.he's not careful.

CC We need a permission We need a permission slipslip in order in order to go on the trip.to go on the trip.

Inference Inference

Sam lay half in his pet house. He lifted his nose Sam lay half in his pet house. He lifted his nose and sniffed the still air. The sky was changing from and sniffed the still air. The sky was changing from deep blue to yellow. Down the street a rooster deep blue to yellow. Down the street a rooster crowed. Sam yawned, got up, and stretched his crowed. Sam yawned, got up, and stretched his four long, black legs. Sam began to bark.four long, black legs. Sam began to bark.

TT FF STATEMENTSTATEMENT

XX Sam is waking upSam is waking up

XX Sam is going to sleepSam is going to sleep

CompleteComplete We can guess that sam is aWe can guess that sam is a _____ _____ bird, rooster, bird, rooster, dogdog, cat, cat

Who is Sam? Who is Sam?

a bird, a rooster, a dog, a cata bird, a rooster, a dog, a cat When is this happening? When is this happening?

sunset, dawn, noon, during the sunset, dawn, noon, during the nightnight

Where does this story take place?Where does this story take place?

Country, city, village, townCountry, city, village, town

Why did Sam get up?Why did Sam get up?

SequencingSequencing

Fill in the blanks to put the group of Fill in the blanks to put the group of sentences in order. The first step is sentences in order. The first step is

numbered for you.numbered for you.The plant burst into flower.The plant burst into flower.

The rain watered it, covering it with The rain watered it, covering it with mud.mud.

11 A seed fell to the soft ground.A seed fell to the soft ground.

The seed quickly grew into a tall plant.The seed quickly grew into a tall plant.

SummarizingSummarizing

I am so proud of my aunt. She quit smoking! Today I am so proud of my aunt. She quit smoking! Today marks the 90th day from when she quit. The family marks the 90th day from when she quit. The family is going out to dinner to celebrate. We will go to is going out to dinner to celebrate. We will go to her favorite restaurant, La Taliano.her favorite restaurant, La Taliano.My aunt had smoked for twenty years. Recently, My aunt had smoked for twenty years. Recently, she was told by her doctor that she had better quit. she was told by her doctor that she had better quit. There are many health risks associated with There are many health risks associated with smoking. She told me she wanted to live a long time smoking. She told me she wanted to live a long time to see me grow up. I'm in third grade right now.to see me grow up. I'm in third grade right now.She gave up cigarettes on a Friday night, and so She gave up cigarettes on a Friday night, and so far, has never looked back. I know it hasn't been far, has never looked back. I know it hasn't been easy. I am making her a special card to tell her how easy. I am making her a special card to tell her how much I love her.much I love her.

Read the paragraph and answer Read the paragraph and answer the questions.the questions.

Who is the story about?Who is the story about?______________________________________________

Why did the aunt quit smoking? Why did the aunt quit smoking? ______________________________________________

How did the aunt quit?How did the aunt quit? ______________________________________________

Thank you!Thank you!

““If the child is not learning the If the child is not learning the way you are teaching, then you way you are teaching, then you must teach in the way the child must teach in the way the child

learns”learns”

Rita DunnRita Dunn