1. Active Reading Strategies
Ways to Boost Comprehension

2. Predict
Make educated guesses about what will happen next by combining clues in the story with what you already know.
Predicting helps you anticipate events and stay alert to the less obvious parts of the story.

3. Predict Say to yourself… I think the title might mean…
I think the character is going to…
Now I think he or she will…
My first prediction doesn’t match what I read Now I think…

4. Connect
Draw parallels between the people, places, and events in the story and the people, places, and events in your own life.

5. Connect
Ask yourself…
How would the main character act in my situation?
How would I act in the main character’s situation?
When have I felt the same way as this character?
What parts of my life does this remind me of?
What other stories does this remind me of?

6. Question
Ask yourself questions to clarify the story as you go along.

7. Question Ask yourself… Do I understand what I’ve read so far?
Why did he or she say that?
What’s going on here?
What does this mean?

8. Visualize
In your mind, form pictures of what is happening in the story.
Pay attention to the details the writer gives you, and make them part of your reading experience.

9. Visualize Ask yourself…
How does this scene, character, or object look?
Who is in this scene?
Where are the characters in relation to one another and to their surroundings?

10. Evaluate
Form opinions and make judgments about the story while you are reading--not just after you have finished.

11. Evaluate Ask yourself… Does this turn of events make sense?
Is this character believable?
What is particularly effective about this writer’s style?
Do I agree with this idea?

12. Review Pause every page or two to think about your reading.
Summarize events in a story or rephrase difficult language to help you understand and to remember what you’ve read.

13. Review
Say to yourself…
So far, …
In other words, …

14. Respond Respond while you are reading.
React to different parts of the story.

15. Respond Say to yourself… I like this character because…
I’d like to ask the writer why…
I wish I could see this place because…