1. How to Read and Understand Your Textbook
Grade 8 – Reading Comprehension Expository Text (Textbooks, Essays, Articles, Reports, Newspapers, Magazines, Online Information. Consumer, Workplace, and Public Documents)

2. Myths About How to Read a Textbook
Read every word!
One reading is enough.
Don’t skip passages.
Reading at a faster rate
means less comprehension.
These ideas are not necessarily true!

3. Why It’s Important to Understand How to Read a Textbook…
If you know how a textbook is organized, you can choose appropriate reading strategies to help you.
It will be easier for you to understand, and remember what you read in a textbook.

4. Features of a textbook that you should know how to use:
Textbook Title and Cover
Table of Contents
Section Heading and/or Introductions
Chapter Headings and/or Introductions
Index
Glossary
Vocabulary Lists

5. Features of a textbook that you should know how to use (continued) :
Focus Headings (like FOCUS ON GENRE: Poetry or FOCUS ON SKILL: Analyzing a Story)
Special typeface (font) or formatting: boldface, italics, numbered items, lists
Pictures, graphs, tables, charts, maps, figures, and other images.

6. Features of a textbook that you should know how to use (continued) :
Questions and/or Review (throughout the section/chapter OR at the end)
Conclusion or Summary (end of section or chapter)
California State Standards for your grade level
Reference or Student Resources

7. Check these features out!!...
What is the Title of your textbook?
What does it mean?
Based on the title, what information do
you think you will get from this book?
What’s on the cover?
What does the design or picture tell you
about the subject?

8. Check these features out!!...continued
Read the Table of Contents.
What’s covered?
Take your time to read through the Table of Contents.
You will get a good overview of the textbook’s many subjects.

9. Check these features out!!...continued
Read the Headings and/or Introductions for each Section or Chapter.
You’ll know what you will be learning about!
There are often Main Headings and
Sub-Headings. Reading these will help
you understand how the information
will be organized.

10. Check these features out!!...continued
Is there a Index?
This is an alphabetized list of names, places, and/or subjects covered in a book.
It includes the page(s) where you will find each item.
When you want to find something fast, check the Index.

11. Check these features out!!...continued
Is there a Glossary or Vocabulary List?
Here you will find important words to know about your subject, with their definitions.
A glossary is often found at the back of a book.
Sometimes there are Vocabulary Lists at the beginning OR end of a section or chapter. Be sure to check them out!
Understanding what particular words mean has a lot to do with overall reading comprehension!

12. Check these features out!!...continued
Are there “Focus” Headings?
Examples…
Focus on Genre: Poetry
Focus on Skill: Analyzing a Story
Focus on Literature: Mood and Tone
These will give you an idea of what your learning goals will be.

13. Check these features out!!...continued
Be sure to notice special typeface (fonts) and formatting.
These can signal that may be important to know.
They might be special concepts, vocabulary words, titles, etc.
Some might have different typeface (font). Some might be boldfaced.
Some might be italicized, or underlined.
Some might be set apart in a box or other shape, in lists, etc.
Key Terms

14. Check these features out!!...continued
Are there pictures, graphs, tables, charts, timelines, maps, or other images?
Images often help you to more clearly understand what you are reading. You can picture it!

15. Check these features out!!...continued
Are there questions, assessments, activities, assignments, throughout the sections or chapters OR at the end?
Is there a plan for Review at the end of sections or chapters?
Reading these ahead of time (before actually reading the section or chapter) can really help you to know what you are expected to learn from the material.

16. Check these features out!!...continued
Is there a Conclusion or Summary at the end of each section or chapter?
Read this before AND after reading the text – this helps you to know what you should be learning from the material.
If you are confused by the conclusion or summary, this can signal you to go back and reread for understanding.
Try this! Don’t read the summary first. Write one in your own words after reading and compare with the text’s summary.

17. Check these features out!!...continued
Are California State Standards for your grade level included?
These help you to understand the goals for learning the material in the textbook.
They may all be listed in the front of the book.
They may also be listed for each section and/or chapter.
Example:
Grade 8 – Literary Response & Analysis – 3.4: Analyze the relevance of setting to the mood, tone, & meaning of the text.

18. Check these features out!!...continued
Is there a Reference or Student Resources section?
These are usually at the end of a textbook.
Can be VERY helpful!
Be sure to check them out.
May have additional skills practice, helpful hints for writing, research, speaking, technology, grammar, etc.

19. Let’s Check it Out! Question 1:
If you were looking for a specific item, where might you check in the textbook?

20. Let’s Check it Out! continued
Answer 1:
The Index.

21. Let’s Check it Out! continued
Question 2:
Where do you find the Table of Contents?

22. Let’s Check it Out! continued
Answer 2:
In the front of the textbook.

23. Let’s Check it Out! continued
Question 3:
Where could you look up the
definition of an unfamiliar word?

24. Let’s Check it Out! continued
Answer 3:
The Glossary or Vocabulary List.

25. Let’s Check it Out! continued
If you have ANY questions about how to best read and understand the information in your textbook, ask your teacher!

26. Hey!..
That’s a lot of textbook features to check out and understand, but you will be sooooo thankful that you made the effort.
Now, let’s look at an example of a
reading strategy you can use.

27. SQR3
SQR3 is a reading comprehension technique especially helpful for nonfiction reading (but can be used for all reading).
(S) SURVEY
(Q) QUESTION
(R) READ
(R) REVIEW
(R) RECITE

28. SQR3 continued…
SURVEY – Before you read, scan titles, vocabulary, headings, pictures, questions and chapter summaries.
QUESTION – Actively ask yourself questions about the material. What are the key topics in this section/chapter?

29. SQR3 continued…
READ – Read for comprehension; locate key facts and record (write down) a brief summary.
REVIEW – Practice and rehearse the main points and anticipate exam questions
RECITE – Transfer information to long term memory by sharing information with classmate(s).

30. And now….

31. Myths About How to Read a Textbook – Debunked (verb: to expose the falseness) !
Read every word!
While is it ideal to read every word, you can usually get a fairly good understanding by first …
reading Headings, Sub-Headings, first and last sentences of sections and paragraphs.
studying all graphic images and highlighted text.
reading any summaries and review materials.
THEN, read the text.
Try to read somewhat quickly, not focusing on each and every word.
Good readers learn how to “chunk” groups of words. Instead of “The – army – moved – forward.” Read as “The army moved forward.”
Pre-Reading

32. Myths About How to Read a Textbook – Debunked (verb: to expose the falseness) !
One reading is enough.
To really understand and remember what you have read, it is best to reread.
Just like “practice makes perfect” in sports and music, rereading text helps to perfect your understanding of the material.
You may notice something important or interesting that you really didn’t recognize in the first reading.

33. Myths About How to Read a Textbook – Debunked (verb: to expose the falseness) !
Don’t skip passages.
If you have “pre-read” the text, you can sometimes skip a few passages.
First, it is important to know what your learning goals are:
what questions you might be asked
how you will be expected to demonstrate your understanding of facts, concepts, and ideas
which California State Standards you are responsible for mastering, as related to the text
However, be sure to “skim” them so you have an idea what you’re missing. 

34. Myths About How to Read a Textbook – Debunked (verb: to expose the falseness) !
Reading at a faster rate means
less comprehension.
Sometimes you can get “lost” in the words if you read very slowly!
Your goal is to read “efficiently” (adverb: producing desired results without wasting time or energy).
You want to understand the big ideas and concepts, not just focus on details.
With practice, and re-reading, you can learn to “chunk” words and sentences, which increase the speed at which you read (and the time you spend reading!)

35. Now you can confidently work with any textbook!

36. Be sure to always get enough rest!
Oh-oh…!
Be sure to always get enough rest!