Reading Comprehension Rocks! Understanding what we read makes reading more fun. The following strategies will help!

Summarize Definition: A summary is a brief statement that presents the main points in a concise form. Reading Tip: Stopping to summarize the “story so far” increases your reading comprehension. Example: Janey is eating lunch in the school cafeteria with her friends. Suddenly she notices the milk carton on the table. There is a picture of a missing child on the carton. The missing child is her. She’s in total shock and is wondering why her picture is on a milk carton. Her friends don’t notice that she is upset.

Ways to use SUMMARIES in your reading log… Stop every chapter and summarize what you read Stop every______ minutes and summarize what you read Summarize: The characters The setting The events that happened

Visualize Definition: To form a mental image of; try to visualize the scene as it was described To make visible To form a mental image Reading Tips: See pictures in your mind as you read Create visual images Draw what you picture in your head.

Ways to use VISUALIZATION in your reading log… Stop after every chapter and draw a picture of what you just read Draw a picture of something that the author described very well Can only use in class

Connect Definition 1. to link or be linked together; join; fasten 2. to relate or associate - I connect him with my childhood 3. to be meaningful or meaningfully related Reading Tip: Connect personally with what you are reading. Find similarities between the story and what you’ve experienced or heard about in your own life.

Ways to use CONNECTIONS in your reading log… Ways to begin connections in logs: This reminds me of… I feel… I agree…. I understand… Make connections to: Your own life Things that you have seen or read Society and the world

Question Definition (for our reading purposes): To ask or inquire. Wonder / Question what may happen next. Reading Tip: Ask questions while you read. Search for reasons behind events and characters’ actions. Get involved with what you are reading.

Ways to use QUESTIONING in your reading log… Ways to begin: Why…..? I wonder….? I don’t understand…..? Questions can lead to predictions! Ask questions of the Author Yourself Text

Infer Reading Tip: Inferences can lead to predictions. Definition: Inference is the process of getting the logical consequences of the material presented or what you have witnessed. It is when you “read between the lines.” Figure Out / Predict: These are things that are not said, but are there! Your Prior Knowledge + Information from the Text = Inference Reading Tip: Inferences can lead to predictions. A prediction is when you try to figure out what will happen next and how the story might end.

Ways to use INFERRING in your reading log… Ways to begin: I guess that… I expect that… I predict…

Synthesize Put Ideas Together Reading Tip: Definition (for our reading purposes): to form ideas or opinions by combining parts or elements of something you have read. When you synthesize, you evaluate something. Put Ideas Together Find meaning both inside and outside of the text. Create insights and formulate generalizations Reading Tip: Tell us what you think of the book and why you feel this way. Give your opinion about the characters and the way the story is unfolding.

Ways to use SYNTHESIZING in your reading log… Ways to begin: I like____ because… I don’t like____ because… I think____ because…

Determine Importance / Purpose Definition (for our reading purposes): Figure out what is important in the text you are reading. When reading, set a purpose or goal for yourself. With choice reading you want the reading to be a pleasure. If your choice reading book is not a pleasure to read you must pick another book. Determine the importance of the information you read for your classes – what really matters? Reading Tip: Decide the importance of ideas and details. Summarize the important details: Find the who, what, when, where, why, and how.

How to use IMPORTANCE in your reading logs… I found it important that… I need to remember _______ for later because… The reason for ________ is because…

Monitoring involves metacognition (thinking about your thinking). Monitor (and adjust!) Definition (for our reading purposes): to observe, record, or detect distractions or issues with my reading comprehension. When self-monitoring tells me my comprehension isn’t complete (I don’t get it), I must ADJUST by: Slowing down or speeding up Re-read: Don’t let confusion stop you. Think about your own learning as you read Monitoring involves metacognition (thinking about your thinking).

Monitoring cont… Reading Tips: If you are distracted when reading your choice book, you should pick another book which appeals to you more. If your monitoring of reading for any subject finds that you are struggling, change it up! You can read aloud Take notes as you read Take clues from headings Read with a partner Do something to change it up!

Putting it all together is what makes us like reading Putting it all together is what makes us like reading. It is what makes us good readers. You can do it!