Here are important reading strategies students can use before, during and after reading:

Before Reading :

·         Predict what the book is about from the title.

·         Set a purpose for reading.  Ex.  "I am going to read this book because I want to learn more about animals."

·         Take a "picture walk" through the book.  What is happening in the pictures?

During Reading :

·         Visualize:
 *  Make a movie in your head just like you do when listening to a story.

·         Ask yourself questions:
*  Think about the story, asking yourself who, what, when, where, why, how.

·         Understand new words:
*  Are you reading a word that makes sense?

·         Make connections:
* What other story is like this one? (Text to Text Connection)
* Have you felt the same away as a character in the story?  Did something similar happen to you? (Text to Self Connection)
* Does it help you think about something in real life not directly connected to you?  (Text to World Connection)

·         Make predictions:
* Ask:  "What happens next?"

After Reading :

·         What did you think of the story? (your reaction)
* How did it make you feel?

·         Summarize:
* What was most important in the story?  One way to do this is to think:
    ~ Someone
    ~ Did something
    ~ But (there was a problem)
    ~ Then (the problem gets solved)
    ~ Finally (what happened at the end?)

Thanks to Mrs. McGowan - www.mrsmcgowan.com - for these great ideas.