1. Tuesday, February 12, 2013

2. QAR Strategy
In Science
Britni Tincher
EDMG 332
w/ Dr. Sharp
Tuesday, February 12, 2013

3. Question / Answer
Technique
QAR stand for Question-Answer Relationships
It is a reading comprehension strategy developed to
"clarify how students approach the tasks of reading
texts and answering questions" (Raphael 1986).
It helps students to become active, strategic readers.
QAR shows you where information can be found "In
the Text" or "In my Head."
It then breaks down the actual question-answer
relationships into four types: (1) Right There, (2)
Think and Search, (3) Author and You, and (4) On
My Own.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013

4. What It Looks Like
Tuesday, February 12, 2013

5. Bloom’s Taxonomy
Comparison
Bloom’s QAR
Taxonomy
Knowledge Right There
questions
Comprehension Think and Search
Application Think and Search
Analysis Author and You/
Me
Synthesis On My Own
Evaluation On My Own
Tuesday, February 12, 2013

6. HOW WOULD I TEACH QAR
IN THE CLASSROOM?
• Begin by teaching the students the necessary vocabulary: Right There, Think
and Search, Author and You, On My Own,
• Show them how the 4 types of questions work
• Guide students by having them identify different types of questions, make up
their own question from a passage, and then answer them correctly.
• Have students write and label the different types of questions followed by the
correct answers.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013

7. My Lesson
INSTRUCTIONS: Read the section on otters carefully. Individually attempt to answer the first three
questions as best you can based on the information in the reading as well as your own experience.
For the final “On Your Own” activity feel free to work with a partner. You may choose to simply
write out a description, or you may use the blank paper and coloring pencils provided to draw
your exhibit. Remember you will be asked to explain to the class what you have included and why.
RIGHT THERE: On which continents can otters be found? Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South
America
THINK AND SEARCH: How do baby otters get into the water for the first time?
River otters have their young on land in a underground den. When the young are two months old,
the mother pushes the reluctant young into the water. Sea otters actually give birth in the water. The
mother then places the newborn on her chest while swimming on her back and begins nursing the
young.
AUTHOR AND YOU: Why do you think the presence of humans would cause the otter, which normally
hunts in the day, to hunt at night?
The author describes some of the effects humans have had on otter populations, but he or she does
not describe exactly why human presence would lead otters that normally hunt in the day to hunt at
night. Students will hopefully be able to describe human activity disturbing the otters and scaring
them away from their normal hunting grounds. Since human activity in the outdoors is more
limited at night, the otters may experience less interference at night.
OWN MY OWN: You may work with a partner for this question. If you had to design a place for
otters to live at a zoo, what would you include and why? You may just write out your description
or you may use the blank paper and coloring pencils provided to draw a detailed picture. When
everyone is finished you will each describe to the class what you included in your design and why
it is important.
Responses here can, and should, vary. Some essentials would be a swimming area, a piece of dry
land, a place to dig a den or a man-made den/shelter, slides for the otters’ amusement, and fish
or other food.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013

8. STANDARDS
National Standards
E.A.2
Understandings about scientific inquiry
a. Scientific investigations involve asking and answering a
question and comparing the answer with what scientists
SC-06-3.5.1 Students will explain that biological
already know about the world.
change over time accounts for the diversity of species
b. Scientists use different kinds of investigations depending
developed through gradual processes over many
on the questions they are trying to answer. Types of
generations.
investigations include describing objects, events, and
Biological adaptations include changes in structures,
organisms, classifying them; and doing a fair test
behaviors, or physiology that enhance survival and
(experimenting).
reproductive success in a particular environment.
d. Scientists develop explanations using observations
(evidence) and what they already know about the world
(scientific knowledge). Good explanations are based on
evidence from investigations.
e. Scientists make the results of their investigations public;
they describe investigations in ways to that enable others to
repeat the investigations.
f. Scientists review and ask questions about the results of
other scientists’ work.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013

9. Hmmmmm???
Will all 5-9 grades be tested for reading
comprehension in our content area each year, or
will it be more of the content itself?
How will QAR be used in Math? There are not
very many books or texts for them to complete
the 4 steps. Will this be be tested over as well?
Tuesday, February 12, 2013

10. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?
feature=player_detailpage&v=RKPf2sfW7ck
Tuesday, February 12, 2013

11. Bibliography
. "Reading in the Content Areas." Reading Educator. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb 2013. <http://www.readingeducator.com/
content/science/skills.htm>.
National Geographic Society. (1981). Book of Mammals, Volume Two. Washington, DC: Special Publications Division. pp.
420-425.
Richardson, J. S. and R. F. Morgan. (2000). Reading to Learn in the Content Areas, Fourth Edition. Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth/Thomson Learning. pp. 153-190.
Smith, Khalid, perf. Asking and Answering Questions for Reading Comprehension . N.p., 27 Aug 2011. web. 6 Feb 2013.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKPf2sfW7ck
Kinniburgh, Leah, and Edward Shaw Jr. "Using Question–Answer Relationships to Build Reading Comprehension in
Science." Heldref Publications. Winter 2009: 19-27. Print.
Reading, Lady. "Teaching Children Where to Seek Answers to Questions." Question Answer Relationship. (2012): 1-14.
Web. 6 Feb. 2013. <http://www.readinglady.com/mosaic/tools/
QARQuestionAnswerRelationshipTeachingChildrenWheretoSeekAnswerstoQuestions.pdf>.
Raphael, . "Teaching Kids to Read and Helping Those Who Struggle." Reading Rockets. (20013): n. page. Print. <http://
www.readingrockets.org/strategies/question_answer_relationship/>.
Raphael, T.E., & Au, K.H. (2005). QAR: Enhancing comprehension and test taking across grades and content areas. The
Reading Teacher, 59, 206-221.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013