This document provides strategies for using reading comprehension techniques before, during, and after reading nonfiction texts for 6th grade students. Some strategies outlined include using KWL charts and making predictions before reading, marking texts and asking questions during reading, and creating graphic organizers and summarizing after reading. The goal of these techniques is to help students better understand, recall, and engage with what they are reading.

1. Critical Assignment #1
Learning Strategies for 6th grade nonfiction text
By: Hollie Miller

2. When Could We Use Reading Strategies?
Reading Strategies can be used before, during,
and after reading.
When these strategies are used students can
better comprehend text, understand vocabulary,
and the text can become more meaningful.

3. Before Reading strategies
• Prior Knowledge Map
• Vocabulary Preview
• K W L chart
• Make Predictions
• THIEVES

4. Prior Knowledge Map
• Students will make a prior knowledge map by
making a circle in the middle with 4 smaller
circles around it.
• In the 1 middle circle students will write the
name of the text or topic.
• In the 4 outer circles students will write in
what they know about that topic.

5. Vocabulary Preview
• The students will go through the text to see if
there are any unknown or confusing words.
• Students will write them down and come back
to them after they read to write in the
definition.
• Doing a vocabulary preview can help students
to recognize and identify the words right away
when they are reading.

6. KWL Chart
• This is chart that has a K, W, and L section.
• The K stands for know and the students will fill
this section in before they read.
• The W stands for what you want to know and
the students would also fill this is before they
read.

7. Make Predictions
• After reading the title and skimming the
passage the students would then make
predictions.
• These predictions can be done in small groups
or one by one.

8. THIEVES
• T – title (look at the Title)
• H - Headings (find and understand headings)
• I – Introduction (skim the intro)
• E - Every First Sentence (read every first sentence)
• V - Visuals and Vocab (find pictures or vocab words)
• E - End of Text (read or skim the end of the text)
• S - Summarize Thinking (now what do you think it will
be about)

9. During Reading Strategies
• Mark up Text
• Table Talk
• Visualizing
• Questioning
• Making Connections

10. Mark Up Text
• This is something students can do while they are
reading. Students can use highlighters, pencils, and/or
sticky notes to make marks in the text when they see
something important.
For example:
• Dates
• Times
• Unknown words
• Important words/sentences

11. Table Talk
• In the middle of reading you can stop the
students and let them chat with the other
table members and talk about what they read
so far.
• Walk around to make sure students are
sharing out loud and make sure they are on
the right track.

12. Visualizing
• During reading you can ask your students what
the material is about so far and have them all
close their eyes and visual that in their heads.
• Having a mental picture really helps them to
understand and remember really important
details.

13. Questioning
• During read their might be some unknown
phrases or sentences that your students come
across.
• At this time students can write down their
questions on a piece of paper or ask the
teacher.
• Making a note right away is crucial so the
student does not forget.

14. Making Connections
• While reading students should constantly be
making connections with the text.
• Students make connections by thinking about
these 3 questions….
-Have I seen this before?
-Have I read about this before?
-Have I been there before?

15. After reading Strategies
• Exit slip
• Summarizing
• Graphic Organizers
• QAR
• Review

16. Exit Slip
• Exit slips are useful in many different ways.
• The teacher can put a variety of questions on
them that they feel they should know after the
reading.
• This helps the student to reflect on their
reading and helps the teacher to see who is
struggling with reading comprehension.

17. Summarizing
• This can be done at the end of reading.
• Summarizing is when students talk about the
main idea or important details from the text or
passage.
• Summarizing can be done in many different
ways. You can have students summarize in
groups, pairs, or one on one.

18. Graphic Organizers
• Graphic organizers are used all the time and
can be very beneficial to students after they
read.
• Students can use these to write in the main
idea, details or authors point of view.
• This is a great way to assess your students and
make sure they are understanding the
material.

19. QAR
• This is a strategy used after reading that helps students to
understand what kind out question is being asked.
• This can be used in small groups or whole class settings.
The four types of QAR’s:
• Right there Questions
• Think and Search Questions
• Author and You Questions
• On my own

20. Review
• After reading it is important to have a review
and let the students share facts and opinions
about what they read.
• You can complete a review by asking questions
or having a group conversation about the
book.
• Reviews help students to reflect and revisit the
material.

21. References
• Bursuck, William D., and Mary Damer. Reading Instruction for Students Who Are at Risk or Have
Disabilities. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon, 2007. Print
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibliophilia#/media/File:Book_lover.jpg
• http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/smiling-student-open-book-thinking-21365118.jpg
• http://www.google.com/url?q=http://dearrichblog.blogspot.com/2014/08/can-i-record-books-
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• http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.datemplate.com/post_blank-web-
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• http://www.hollyclark.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Screen-Shot-2015-04-30-at-3.20.29-
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