Focus on Reading Strategies | GRADES 1–8
Create skilled, strategic, successful readers through standards-based instruction.
Directly teaches the active reading strategies research has shown most effectively improve reading comprehension.
Direct instruction and practice of active reading strategies
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previewing
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self-questioning
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making connections
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knowing how words work
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visualizing
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monitoring
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summarizing
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evaluating
Practice of the standards-based comprehension skills most frequently included in state standards
Students use active reading strategies to study the comprehension skills most frequently included in state standards.
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making inferences
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distinguishing fact from opinion
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analyzing plot structure
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understanding characterization
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examining theme
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interpreting symbolism
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finding relevant details
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recognizing cause and effect
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and more!
Development of vocabulary strategies
Students apply useful vocabulary strategies as they read
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recognizing antonyms, synonyms, homonyms, idioms, root words, and affixes
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identifying multiple-meaning words
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using a thesaurus
Fiction and nonfiction selections
The high-interest fiction and nonfiction selections span a wide range of genres and topics
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short stories
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expository articles
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novel excerpts
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poems
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folk tales
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Web sites
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editorials
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and more!
A variety of before, during, and after reading activities address multiple learning styles
Review for mastery
A writing prompt at the end of each lesson allows students to demonstrate their comprehension skills. Two review lessons monitor students' progress.
Listening comprehension
A listening lesson after each review helps students become active and attentive listeners by making and confirming predictions about a selection read to them.
Writing activities and review lessons assess progress
Each lesson has six consistent sections that guide learning. Students use essential reading strategies as they complete a variety of multimodal activities.
1. Before Reading: Heads Up
Students access prior knowlege to provide a framework for deeper textual understanding.
2. During Reading: Think-Along Questions
Readers interact with the text through questioning, predicting, and making connections.
3. After Reading: Make Sense of Words
Vocabulary strategies build vocabulary and provide tools for independent reading.
4. After Reading: Read with Understanding
Multiple-choice questions, similar to those on state and national tests, provide practice for the targeted skill.
5. After Reading: Understand by Seeing It
Students use visual mapping strategies with a variety of graphic organizers.
6. After Reading: Write to Learn
Students demonstrate mastery of comprehension skills and reading strategies through writing activities.
