PQR4: Content Literacy

By: Joseph Eterno

What is the PQR4 strategy?

P-Preview

Q-Question

R-Read

R-Reflect

R-Recite

R-Review

Before, during, and after reading strategy.

Helps improve understanding and recall of facts.

Assists in organizing information better in student’s heads.

Why would I teach PQR4?

Focuses attention

Organizes attention

Allows reader to connect with text

Chunks and breaks down the material

Leads to an active learning environment where you can deeply reflect on what you have read.

How would I teach PQR4?

1. Preview the text: skim the text and look for main points that will be covered.

2. Question: Generate questions based upon main points.

3. Read: Read the text and keep track of your thinking.

4. Reflect: Make connections of what you are reading.

5. Recite: Read out loud and recall main points.

Preview

Preview

Before teaching, introduce the topic that you will cover in class and prepare an outline and generate questions for your students.

Students will skim through titles, headings, table of contents, subheadings, pictures, charts, graphs, introductions, and summaries.

Question

Question

Formulate questions based on the preview of the material/topic.

Turn headings and subheadings into questions.

The preview and question steps may happen at the same time and can act as an icebreaker or motivating activity.

Read

Students will read through the material trying to keep the generated questions in mind.

Read slowly and look for answers.

Students are encouraged to keep tracks as he/she is reading.

ReflectReflect

Have students think back on the questions they have posed.

Think about what is read and how it relates to what you already know.

Use the connections; text to text, text to world, text to self.

Provide questions and/or generated sheets to assess understanding.

Recite

Recite

Students will recite the main points and important details that correlate to the topic.

Read it aloud to yourself so you can hear what you just learned.

You may use a tape recorder and speak key terms and concepts.

Review

Review

Review literature and turn back through the chapter to see if you can recall main points and/or themes.

Associate what you have learned with your prior knowledge.

Summarize what you have read and learned.

Review information without looking back at your notes.

Overlearn to help you remember

Review information 12-24 hours to move into long term memory.