#10: Word Hunting

 While reading, we frequently come across words that we don't know.  That's Word Hunting! You need to use context clues, word mapping, and signal words to help identify the meaning of the unknown word.

#9: Monitoring and Correcting 

It is important to monitor your comprehension while reading.  Consider using the C2 (click or clunk) method we discussed in class. If you are "clicking" you are comprehending and are able to summarize what you read.  If you "clunk" or have trouble with comprehension or a challenging part of the text, you need to stop and correct.  Rereading or reading on to find out more information are two good ways to correct your clunking.

 #8: Predicting   

Before you begin reading, you should make an educated guess about what the text is going to be about.  Using the cover, titles, subtitles, pictures, graphics and table of contents are all useful in order to make solid predictions.  While reading, you should either confirm or revise your predictions.  Background knowledge is essential for making predictions. 

 #7 Asking Questions    

While reading, you should be paying attention to your metacognitive voice.  It is important to constantly wonder about things while reading.   Asking questions on various levels will help deepen your understanding, establish thought-provoking concepts, and help guide you in your search for the answer.  If we don't wonder about things, our learning lacks.

 #6 Making Connections    

 #5 Visualizing    

Good readers have a mental image in their mind while they read.  They can actually see the characters while reading the words on the page.  Your job as a reader is to focus on creating a movie in your mind about the subject.  For instance, while reading your science textbook on chemistry, consider thinking about what the chemical reaction would look like. Visualizing is often what makes reading fun!

 #4 Maintaining and Adjusting Fluency  

The bottom line is that reading should sound like speaking.  When people talk, they change their intonation and inflection depending on what is said or read.  It heightens listener (and reader) comprehension.  As a reader, you need to know when to slow down and when to speed up your pace, when to raise your voice or lower it.  So, when you are focusing on improving your fluency, you should think about:

• reading accurately
• recognizing when to pause and the length of the pause based on punctuation and phrasing
• using appropriate pitch and intonation 
• maintaining and adjusting your speed

*Remember, Mrs. Delafield's reading of "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe is a great example of maintaining and adjusting fluency.  But why???

 #3 Summarizing   

• First, read the text carefully and be sure to fully comprehend (Talking to the Text will help!).
• Second, reread to find the 5Ws.
• Third, write the summary using the 5Ws and only the main details.  Be sure to write this in complete sentences.
• Last, reread your summary and revise if you are missing any of the main details from the article.  Pretend that you never read this article.  Would you understand the text based on what you wrote.

Keep in mind that summaries do not include your opinions or reactions to the text. You're simply reporting facts.

   #2 Critiquing or Judging It  

 When using this strategy, you need to discover the important information from the text and your opinion.  You should be questioning the author, the text's purpose, the characters, the validity of the text, and discovering any biases.  This is your opportunity to evaluate the source.  Remember, if you include your opinion, you must back up or justify your opinions.

 Details from the Text + Your Background Knowledge = Inference/Drawing Conclusions/Making Generalizations

 You synthesize on a daily basis!  Synthesizing is when you take what you already know and merge it with new information/reading to create something new or change our viewpoint.  The graphic below will help you understand synthesizing.