Reading Strategies

ReadingReadingDiscoveryDiscovery

Using Using

Non-fiction Strategies Non-fiction Strategies EffectivelyEffectively

BeforeBefore You Read You Read This is the This is the

preparation stagepreparation stage Time and care Time and care

taken taken before before reading will make reading will make the actual reading the actual reading experience easierexperience easier

Set A PurposeSet A Purpose Decide why you are reading this Decide why you are reading this

informationinformation To make a decision?To make a decision? To create something?To create something? To help you?To help you? For school?For school?

PreviewPreview Read headlines and subtitlesRead headlines and subtitles Look at pictures and other Look at pictures and other

graphics; read captionsgraphics; read captions Skim side barsSkim side bars Read section outline in textbooks Read section outline in textbooks

and articlesand articles

Activate Prior KnowledgeActivate Prior Knowledge consider what you consider what you

already know about the already know about the subjectsubject

think about connections think about connections to other knowledge you to other knowledge you possesspossess

Write QuestionsWrite Questions make predictions about make predictions about

information you expect information you expect to findto find

write down things you write down things you wondered while wondered while previewing previewing

create questions you create questions you think might be answered think might be answered by the textby the text

Set a Reading SpeedSet a Reading Speed Good readers adjust their Good readers adjust their

reading rate to fit the reading rate to fit the text and purposetext and purpose

Think about WHY you are Think about WHY you are reading and WHAT you reading and WHAT you are readingare reading

Then pick a speedThen pick a speed

First GearFirst Gear Slow, thoughtful readingSlow, thoughtful reading Use when the text is complex or Use when the text is complex or

difficultdifficult Use when you are reading to Use when you are reading to

remember important informationremember important information Use when you are going to take Use when you are going to take

actionaction

Second GearSecond Gear Relaxed readingRelaxed reading Use when reading for pleasureUse when reading for pleasure Use when the text is fairly simple Use when the text is fairly simple

for youfor you Example: reading a novel or Example: reading a novel or

magazinemagazine

Third GearThird Gear Skimming the textSkimming the text Use when you need basic Use when you need basic

answers or information quicklyanswers or information quickly You don’t have to read every You don’t have to read every

word, until you locate the word, until you locate the information you needinformation you need

Fourth GearFourth Gear Scanning the text Scanning the text

rapidlyrapidly Use when looking for a Use when looking for a

particular word or particular word or conceptconcept

Your eyes move quickly Your eyes move quickly over the page until you over the page until you find what you are find what you are looking forlooking for

Before ReadingBefore Reading PPreviewreview

AActivate prior knowledgectivate prior knowledge

WWrite down wondersrite down wonders

SSet a speedet a speed

DuringDuring Reading Reading Now that you have prepared your Now that you have prepared your

brain, you are ready to readbrain, you are ready to read Remember: “READING IS THINKING”Remember: “READING IS THINKING” Use effective strategies to help you Use effective strategies to help you

make sense of what you are readingmake sense of what you are reading

VisualizeVisualize Use illustrations to help you create Use illustrations to help you create

mental pictures mental pictures Add in images from your own Add in images from your own

experiences so that you create a experiences so that you create a “Mental Movie”“Mental Movie”

PredictPredict Pay attention to section headings and Pay attention to section headings and

subtitles to help you know what is subtitles to help you know what is coming upcoming up

Create questions, then search for Create questions, then search for answers as you readanswers as you read