BEFORE READING STRATEGIES

Question:What should I do BEFORE I read?Answer: There are four components of the BEFORE READING STRATEGIES routine.

These strategies are Predict, Activate Prior Knowledge, Set a Purpose for Reading, and Survey the Text.

Question:Why do I need to use strategies to help me read?Answer: It is proven that using specific strategies BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER reading aids in comprehension, fosters wider understanding of the text, as well as making what you read a part of your memory and experiences.

Question: How can I remember these strategies?Answer: There is an acronym used to remember the

strategies: PASS

P- PredictA- Activate Prior KnowledgeS- Set a PurposeS- Survey the Text

Question: Should I do the steps in the same order as PASS?Answer: NO! PASS is only a way to remember all the strategies.

The steps are meant to be done in this order:

(1) Survey the text (2) Set a purpose for reading (3) Activate prior knowledge (4) Predict what will happen

BEFORE READING STRATEGIES STRATEGY 1: SURVEY THE TEXT When you survey the text, you scan the entire text and look for specific features. These features will help you determine whether the text is fiction or nonfiction, as well as helping you to set a purpose for why you are reading the text. There are 6 steps to surveying the text: 1. Read the title

2. Read any type of introduction

3. Read headings and subheadings

4. Look at visual aids (pictures, captions, charts, graphs, maps, etc.)

5. Read bold, italicized, or special print

6. Read a summary if there is one/read questions ***

STRATEGY 2: SET A PURPOSE FOR READING Determine WHY you are reading this text. Create a reason to read.Question yourself. (1) Why am I reading this? (2) Why does the authorthink I should read this? (3) What type of text is this? (4) What do I expect to learn from reading this?

There are three main reasons or purposes for reading a text. 1. Literary Experience (fun, enjoyment, connect with the story)

2. For Information (to learn something)

3. To Perform a Task (to follow directions/life skills sort of things)

STRATEGY 3: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE What do you already know about the topic, subject, or theme that you are going to read about? Is your prior knowledge correct, can you add more information to what you already know, or do you need to revise what you thought you knew about the topic?You will bring information from your long term memory to your short term memory.

STRATEGY 4: PREDICT It is useful to make predictions BEFORE you read so that you may get a “mindset” before you start reading. As you read, you should also keep your predictions in mind to see if you are correct or incorrect. Once you have done the previous three components of the BEFORE reading strategies, you can make predictions about what you will read based on what you found out by Surveying the Text AND Activating Prior Knowledge.

Based on scanning the text while surveying, what can you expect to find in the text? Based on what you already know about the topic, what can you expect to happen in the text?