How to Help Someone Become a Good Reader
Passively reading is a nice pasttime, but to really comprehend what you are reading is much different than just reading for pleasure. Reading to learn takes active involvement in the reading process. Here are some steps to teach someone to read to understand.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
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Have the reader preview the selection. Look at the cover and then title. Look at some of the pictures and read a little text.
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Predict what will happen based on the cover and title. As you go through the story have the person reading make predictions about what they think will, or should happen next.
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Ask them the questions, who, what, when, whrere and why as you go through the text. Who are the characters, what is going on, when is the time period and why are they doing what they are doing.
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Have the reader Infer what the author is trying to tell them. Imagine details based on characterizations, or generalizations. Use the context of the reading to understand the authors message.
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Connect to what you already know. Have the reader relate the story to their own life somehow. Compare to thoughts, feelings or events. Also make comparisons to other reading material.
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Summarize by organizing an connecting details. Have the reader draw conclusions,and sum up the story in their own words to deepen connections and cement understanding.
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Evaluate the story. Have the reader think about what they haver read, and what they have learned from the text. Ask them questions such as, "Did you like the story?" "Why or why not?" "Was the story important?" "Why or why not?"
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