This document outlines various strategies that can be used before, during, and after reading to improve comprehension. Some strategies mentioned include using a KWL chart to activate prior knowledge before reading, taking notes and writing questions on sticky notes during reading to stay engaged, and doing activities after like creating your own test questions or having a think-pair-share discussion. The strategies are meant to set a purpose for reading, keep students focused on the text, and help them reflect on and consolidate what they learned.
3. Do Now
Activity Details:
• In this activity the teacher provides
the students with a topic or
question that relates to the text they
are about to read. The students
write their thoughts and ideas on
this topic. This gets the students
minds ready for the text they will
read.
How does this help?
• This activity is meant to have
students relating their thoughts to
the text as they read, and even
reference back to this activity and
what they wrote later on the text
and update their thoughts.
4. Prewrite Questions
Activity Details:
• Prior to reading the teacher will
have the students review the text
and create a list of questions that
they will search the answer for
during reading.
• Can be done individually or as a
whole class.
How does this help?
• This sets a purpose for reading.
• Allows for previewing the text,
which activates prior knowledge.
• Prepares the students’ minds for
what they will read.
5. Key Words
Activity Details:
• Teacher gives students list of key
vocabulary words from the text, and
students will use the words in a short story.
• Key words can be new words to the
students.
• Same words can be used after reading to
create new short story to demonstrate
understanding of vocabulary.
How does this help?
• This activity activates prior knowledge.
• Aids in reading comprehension, even if
the students do not know what the word
means.
• Allows the teacher to determine what
vocabulary to focus instruction on.
6. Pictures
Activity Details:
• Students go through the text and
look at the pictures, text boxes,
graphs, etc. and predict what the
story will be about.
• Students can do this individually or
the class as a whole.
How does this help?
• This activity is to help the students’
minds ready themselves for reading
the text.
• As well as activating prior
knowledge.
7. KWL Chart
Activity Details:
• Students write down what they
“k”now, what they “w”ant to know,
and then at the end of the reading
what they “l”earned. The K is done
prior to the reading, the W can be
done prior to or during the reading
and L after reading!
How does this help?
• This helps students to think about
the text they are about to read and
activate their prior knowledge as
well.
9. Sticky Notes
Activity Details:
• Provide the students with sticky
notes on which they can write
down key ideas, thoughts, or
vocabulary they have or wish to
learn.
How does this help?
• This activity is meant to keep the
students thinking about what they
are reading.
• Allows the students to go back to
important pages of the text.
• Especially works for text where the
students cannot write directly on.
10. Response Sheet
Activity Details:
• Students will write down important
or meaningful quotes of text on
one side of a piece of paper and
their thoughts on that piece of text
on the other side, Cornell note
style.
How does this help?
• This activity will have the students
taking notes throughout the reading
of the text, keeping their thoughts
focused on what they are reading,
and clearly
11. Brainstorming/Webbing
Activity Details:
• The students will draw a spider web, or
word map of the teacher’s choosing.
At the center will be a character from
the story, or it can be a vocabulary
word. They can write ideas or thoughts
on this character or word, filling out
the web.
• This can be done as a whole class or
each student individually.
How does this help?
• This helps the students to have a better
understanding of complex characters
or words, thus improving reading
comprehension.
12. Interrupted Conversations
Activity Details:
• In this activity the students will
read in pairs and when one of them
comes across something they find
interesting or important they will
interrupt the reader to discuss the
topic.
How does this help?
• This activity helps the students to
activate their deep thinking skills.
• This will also help them with any
after reading activities as well.
13. Rereading
Activity Details:
• Students go back to reread text to
try to find the answer to any
questions, or support to answers.
• This activity can be related or done
as the next step for the before
reading activity of “Prewrite
Questions”.
How does this help?
• This activity is meant to help
students stay focused on what they
are reading, and finishing what they
started if used in conjunction with
the before reading activity
previously mentioned.
15. Make your own Test
Activity Details:
• After reading the text, the students
will make up their own test,
referencing the text to create their
questions. Ideally the students will
also have the answers to their
questions, and the test will be given
to a different student.
How does this help?
• This helps the student to remember
what they read, and to practice
going back and referencing to the
text and rereading.
• It can also help as a study guide for
any future assignments or tests.
16. Reflection
Activity Details:
• In this activity the students will
write a reflection on what they
read.
• They will describe how what they
learned relates to prior knowledge
and future learning.
How does this help?
• This activity is meant to have the
students think back on what they
read, and put it into perspective and
expand their thoughts on the
reading.
17. Author Interview
Activity Details:
• The students will write the author an
interview as one of the character of
the story and ask the author why they
are the way they are, or why their story
ended the way it did.
• It could also be a letter to the author
by one of the characters in which they
express their thoughts or feelings on
how they were written out to be.
How does this help?
• This will allow the students to have a
deeper connection with the characters,
and perhaps even the author, as they
are placing themselves as part of the
story.
• This activity assists with reflection and
comprehension of the text.
18. P.S.
Activity Details:
• After reading the story, the students
will write an epilogue for one of
the characters in which they
describe what happens to said
character after the story is over.
How does this help?
• This activity allows the teacher to
see that the students have a
comprehension of the story.
• Bonus is help in writing skills.
19. Think-Pair-Share
Activity Details:
• In this activity the students will write
down their thoughts and perspectives
on a specific topic or subject relating
to the text they read.
• They will discuss what they wrote with
a partner.
• Then they will share with the class.
How does this help?
• This helps the students obtain a wide
range of perspective on the text.
• Speaking out loud on their thoughts
helps students better comprehend the
text and as well keeping their minds
thinking about what they read.
20. References
• 103 Things to Do Before/During/After Reading. (2017, March 16).
Retrieved April 09, 2017, from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/103-
things-do-beforeduringafter-reading
• PA.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved April 09, 2017, from
http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-
%20Administrators/Curriculum/Pages/Before-During-After-Reading-
Strategies.aspx#tab-1
