Friday, September 28, 2012

Reading Advice from Resources for Educators


Sometimes I forget the basics when working on reading
with my boy. This method,  from a 2010 Middle Years
handout, resembles KWL. The Check Understanding
step can be especially valuable for readers with autism
struggling with comprehension.

Textbook Super Sleuths
Like investigators on a case, good readers examine clues, 
and fit pieces together. These steps can help your middle schooler 
understand the material, connect with what she’s reading, and use the 
information in textbooks.  
Look ahead 
Before starting, your child should identify what 
the section is about. Checking the table of contents or end-of- 
chapter questions can provide valuable clues. She can also 
browse headings, diagrams, and illustrations. This will prepare her 
for the type of reading she’ll be doing and help her zero in on key 
points. 
Check understanding 
After reading a sentence, paragraph, or chapter, your 
youngster can ask, “Did this make sense?” If not, she should try
 to pinpoint where she got lost and go back and reread the pages. 
To shed light on the meaning, she also might find definitions for words
she doesn’t recognize, make a chart of the information, or write 
a summary in her own words.  
Put it in context 
Once your middle grader is finished, she should think 
about how the material fits with what she knows. For example, 
how does the information build on another topic she has learned about? 
What was the writer’s opinion, and does she agree with it? 
Making connections will help her master the material so she can 
discuss it in class and draw on it when doing homework.

copyright 2010
Resources for Educators, a division of Aspen Publishers Inc.

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