Reading Comprehension A list of strategies

Talk to Yourself

•When you read, it is important to talk to yourself silently in your head.

•After a few paragraphs, ask yourself, “Did I understand what I read?”

If the answer is yes, keep reading.If the answer is no, go back and read

again.

Find the Problem

•Did I….a.) run into a difficult word?b.) stop concentrating?c.) read it too fast?d.) not know enough about the topic of what I am reading?e.) not know what to expect?

Fix the problem• Skip the word and read to the end of the paragraph,

trying to figure out what it means from context.• Ask someone the meaning of the word, look for a

definition in text or dictionary.• Reread the paragraph.• Read aloud or sign it to yourself.• Identify the topic and ask yourself what you know

about this topic.• Find out more about the topic-ask someone or look it

up.• Use text features like pictures, heading, captions,

charts, etc.

Context Clues• When you’re reading and you come across a word

you don’t know:• Use the other words in a sentence to give you

hints.• Try to put a word you do know in place of the word

you don’t know and see if the sentence makes sense.

• Ex. Why is your proboscis in the middle of your face? By using context clues, you can figure out that proboscis means nose.

Types of Context Clues Examples:

 • Definition- Some spiders spin silk with tiny organs called spinnerets.

 • Synonym- Mrs. Kleiber admonished her students and they knew

with this warning they were in trouble for their actions. (The synonym is warning)

• Antonym- It was your duplicity that caused me to break up with you! Had you been honest, I wouldn't have felt the need. (The antonym is honest)

• Example- I was shocked at her duplicity when she stole my diamond earrings, sold them on eBay and lied to me about it the whole time. (Example: stole, sold, and lied)

Inferences

•To make inferences:▫Ask yourself, “What do I already know that

will help me understand what I’m reading?▫Think about what you’ve learned through

past experiences.▫Think about what clues you’ve already

learned from the reading.▫Try to find additional clues by looking back

over the reading.

Interpreting Perspectives

• When you interpret someone else’s perspective:

•Consider other points of view in order to make a conclusion.

•Put yourself in “their shoes” to help you understand.

•Think about how that person would think or feel about the situation.

•1st Person•3rd Person

Making Predictions

•In order to make an accurate and appropriate prediction:

•Use what you’ve learned from the reading to help you figure out what may happen next.

•Listen out for “clues” provided by the author.

•Read chapter titles and look at any pictures to help you.

Visualizing

•When you visualize as you read:▫Create images in your mind based on what

you read.▫Use the descriptive words to help you

“make a movie in your mind”.▫Think about each of the five senses to help

you form an image.▫Afterwards, share what you “see” in your

mind with others.

Paraphrasing• Stephmeyer: Girl falls in love with boy. Boy changes girl.

They fight off scary people. All ends well.

• @eltonjohn The king of the jungle is killed. Little cub runs away. Makes two friends. Uncle tries to kill him. Cub grows up to become king. #circleoflife

• Chriscolumbus: Family leaves. Boy stays. He fights off bad guys with clever tricks. Family comes back. Feels bad. Happens again 2 more times.

• Pixar: Fish loses his father. Meets forgetful friend. Together they look for his father. #PSherman42wallabyway,sydney

Paraphrasing (Continued)• To paraphrase:• Use your own words to express the meaning. • Make information clearer and easier to understand. • Explain the meaning without plagiarizing the original

author.• Use synonyms (words that have a similar or same

meaning) to replace the original words and change the word order or sentence structures to make it “your own”.

• If the original content contains figurative language, you have to explain the intended meaning. You can’t use synonyms to replace those words.

• Finally, restate what you paraphrased to make sure you have maintained the original meaning.

Sequencing EventsWhen you retell events from a story: • Tell what happened in the correct order using complete

sentences.• Include the main idea.• Use sequencing words to make your story “flow” (first, then,

next, etc.).• Use specific character names so the listener can understand

and follow the plot.• Include all necessary details and events that are CRUCIAL

to the story.• Overall, your retell should be cohesive and concise. A person

who is unfamiliar to the story should be able to understand the story based on your retell.

Transition Words-do not use the same transition word all of the time

first, second, third are for babies!

at first first of all to begin with in the first place

at the same time

for now for the time being

the next step

in time in turn later on meanwhile

next then soon the meantime

later while earlier simultaneously

afterward in conclusion with this in mind

Finally

after following whenever sometimes

immediately never always at length

The Hungry Caterpillar

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ePOq_S04p8

Foreshadowing/Hypothesize

•To predict what will happen in the story based on clues

•“It was a dark and stormy night…”•The witches in Macbeth

Ominous

•"On December the third the wind changed overnight and it was winter." The story's protagonist remarks, "there are more birds about than usual...And daring. Some of them taking no notice of the tractor. One or two gulls came so close to my head this afternoon I thought they'd knock my cap off"

•"Does this safari guarantee I come back alive?" The reply: "We guarantee nothing!"

Direct Quote of Foreshadowing What does it mean?

Hakeem gave Darcy a hug, but she felt right away that there was something wrong. His arms were like dead weights around her, and the embrace did not last long before Hakeem pulled away.

Something is going to happen in their relationship. They will fight and maybe break up.

Figurative Language

•Simile•Metaphor•Hyperbole •Idiom•Irony•Alliteration

IRONYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqg6RO8c_W0

•Dramatic Irony-This occurs when the reader or audience understands more about the events of a story than a character.

•Ex.) I was watching an old Ellen episode. A celebrity on it was hoping that Alabama would win because they were undefeated. I knew that they had already lost.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZFYuX84n1U

•Situational Irony-This occurs when what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate

•Ex. The guy who invented the segway died by a segway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiR-bnCHIYo

•Verbal Irony-A character says one thing but really means the opposite. Sarcasm

•“Teachers get paid so much.”

Hyperbole•Hyperbole-extreme exaggeration•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfBMlvdzEo0•Example-I’m so thirsty I could drink an ocean.•Example-I’m so thirsty I could drink 3 gallons of

water•Nonexample-I was so thirsty that I could drink

chocolate milk.•Example-I am so happy I could cry for hours.•Nonexample-I’m so happy that I got a new car.

Alliteration

•The use of words that begin with the same sound near one another.

•Alliteration is used a lot in poems or newspaper headlines.

• It evokes emotion in the reader•According to Amy, alliteration are awesome!•Lauren loves lollipops.•Natalie knows neuropathy.•Ron runs to Rhode Island.

Making Connections

•Text-to-text

•Connect what you are reading with what you’ve already read.▫Ask yourself:

Does this remind me of another book I’ve read?

Does this remind me of something the author wrote earlier in the book?

Is the author using a particular style or theme?

Making Connections

•Text-to-self

▫ Connect what you read to your own life.▫Ask yourself:

Does this remind me of something? Has this ever happened to me? Do I know someone like him/her? Am I like this character? Have I ever felt this

way?

Making Connections

•Text-to-World▫Connect what you read to what you know

about the world.▫Ask yourself:

What do I already know that will help me understand what I’m reading?

How are events in the book similar to current events that are going on in the world now?