Preview & Predict

Before each story we read, students are asked to preview the story and then to make predictions about what they think might happen in the story. We preview a story in these ways:

1. Read and think about the title
2. Look at the cover or illustrations
3. Read the first paragraph or page
4. If it's a chapter book, read the abstract on the back cover

K -W - L Chart

A good way to prepare a reader for a nonfiction story like this is to fill out a KWL Chart. A KWL chart consists of 3 columns and they should be labeled as follows:

1. What I Know about the subject
2. What I Want to know about the subject
3. What I Learned about the subject

Steps 1 and 2 are done prior to reading the selection. For example, if a reader wanted to read a book about rocks, he/she would write down in column one everything they knew about rocks. In column two, they would write down some things they wanted to learn about rocks by reading the story (or book). The next step is to read the selection. When finished, the reader returns to their chart and fills in column three -- What they learned (about rocks -- or whatever) by reading the selection.

SQ3R

SQ3R is another way to prepare a reader to read a nonfiction selection. SQ3R Stands for:

1. Survey -- Look over the selection & pay attention to title, subheads, pictures, etc.
2. Question -- Think of and write down questions you have about the subject
3. Read -- Read the selection
4. Recite -- After reading, recite the answers to your pre-reading questions
5. Review -- Orally summarize what you have read -- Or write a summary