This document outlines strategies for reading comprehension before, during, and after reading. Before reading, the strategies include establishing a purpose, learning new vocabulary, activating prior knowledge through graphic organizers or discussion. During reading, one should make predictions, visualize, locate key ideas, clarify understanding, and make inferences. After reading, it's important to summarize, evaluate comprehension, make connections, and reread if needed. The strategies are meant to improve understanding and retention of information from texts.

1. Reading Strategies
Strategies for before, during, and after reading

2. Before Reading
• To have a successful reading experience, there are a several steps you can take
before beginning to read.

3. Establish a Purpose
• Identify the purpose for reading.
• Some possible purposes are for entertainment, to get information, or to learn
how to complete a task.

4. Learn New Vocabulary
• Learn the meaning of new vocabulary words to make the text easier to
understand.

5. Activate Prior Knowledge
• Brainstorm. Think about the title and write thoughts that come to mind.
• Create a KWL chart. K – what I already know W – what I want to know and
L – after reading the material, what I learned.
• Have a group discussion to share experiences and knowledge.

6. Use a Graphic Organizer
• Depending on the level of the reader, this can be completed by the teacher,
the student, or in small groups.
• Stimulates interest
• Organizes information to help retain it longer.

7. Textbook Walk
• Look at the pictures
• Preview the pages
• Become familiar with how information is presented and where to find
information.

8. During Reading
• Employing reading strategies during reading is essential.

9. Make Predictions
• Think ahead of what you are reading and make predictions.
• Can be used during reading as well as before reading.

10. Visualize
• Create images in your mind as you read.
• Use the information in the material and pictures in the text.

11. Locate Key Words and Main Ideas
• Makes notes.
• Highlight when possible.

12. Clarify
• So, what is happening is…..
• The last thing I just read meant ….
• In other words …..

13. Make Inferences
• Use clues from the text and what you already know to better understand
what the author is trying to tell you.

14. After Reading
• Strategies that are used after you have finished reading the material.

15. Summarize
• Think about what you just read and summarize.
• Review and Reflect.

16. Evaluate Understanding
• What did I just learn?
• What things are still unclear?

17. Make Connections
• Compare what you read with something you already knew.

18. Repeated Reading
• Reread when…
• You don’t understand what you read
• You are not sure what is going on in the story
• You weren’t focused on reading

19. References
• Curriculum Strategies for Reading. (nd) Retrieved April 8, 2015 from
http://www.thinkport.org/career/strategies/reading/predict.tp
• Bursuck, William and Mary Damer. Reaching Reading to Students Who are
at Risk or Have Disabilities. Pearson, 2011. Print.