Strategies Good Readers Use
The following strategies are taught and reinforced in the classroom. They may be helpful to you when reading with your child at home.
Look for Words You Know. Find words you know. Use those words to help you figure out the words you don’t know.
Look for Word Chunks. When you see a word you don’t know, look for parts of the word that are familiar.
Self-Correct. Sometimes you need to change the way you read something so that it makes sense.
Read Ahead. When you get to a word you have tried to sound out but still don’t know, try reading ahead. Or, if you are having trouble understanding something in a selection, keep on reading. The meaning may become clear when you have more information.
Reread Aloud. Something you can figure out a tricky word when you reread out loud the sentences that are before the word.
Reread. If something doesn’t make sense, you may have missed an important point. Try rereading an earlier part of the selection.
Use Picture Clues to Confirm Meaning. Look at the picture to help you understand what the words say.
Use Context to Confirm Meaning. After you read an unfamiliar or difficult word, ask yourself whether what you read makes sense in the sentence and whether it fits what is happening in the selection.
Make and Confirm Predictions. Think about what might happen next. Read to find out whether you are right. Make new predictions as you read.
Sequence Events/Summarize. Think about the order in which things happen. When you finish reading, see if you can tell about the main things that happened.
Summarize. Tell or list the main points of the selection or the main things that happened. This will help you understand and remember what you read.
Create Mental Images. Sometimes, picturing in your mind what you are reading can help you understand and enjoy a selection.
Make Inferences. An author doesn’t tell everything. Often the author shows things and lets the reader decide what they mean. As you read, look for clues that help you figure out what the words don’t say.
Use Text Structure and Format. Find clues to meaning by looking at how the author organized the information. Look at headings and captions.
Use Graphic Aids. Sometimes a selection has graphic aids, such as pictures, graphs, charts, diagrams, maps, or time lines. These often show important information that can help you understand the selection.
Adjust Reading Rate. A selection that has a lot of facts and details may have to be read more slowly than a story about a character your age.
Self-Question. Ask yourself questions as you read. This will help you check your understanding and focus on important ideas in the selection.
Look for Word Chunks. When you see a word you don’t know, look for parts of the word that are familiar.
Self-Correct. Sometimes you need to change the way you read something so that it makes sense.
Read Ahead. When you get to a word you have tried to sound out but still don’t know, try reading ahead. Or, if you are having trouble understanding something in a selection, keep on reading. The meaning may become clear when you have more information.
Reread Aloud. Something you can figure out a tricky word when you reread out loud the sentences that are before the word.
Reread. If something doesn’t make sense, you may have missed an important point. Try rereading an earlier part of the selection.
Use Picture Clues to Confirm Meaning. Look at the picture to help you understand what the words say.
Use Context to Confirm Meaning. After you read an unfamiliar or difficult word, ask yourself whether what you read makes sense in the sentence and whether it fits what is happening in the selection.
Make and Confirm Predictions. Think about what might happen next. Read to find out whether you are right. Make new predictions as you read.
Sequence Events/Summarize. Think about the order in which things happen. When you finish reading, see if you can tell about the main things that happened.
Summarize. Tell or list the main points of the selection or the main things that happened. This will help you understand and remember what you read.
Create Mental Images. Sometimes, picturing in your mind what you are reading can help you understand and enjoy a selection.
Make Inferences. An author doesn’t tell everything. Often the author shows things and lets the reader decide what they mean. As you read, look for clues that help you figure out what the words don’t say.
Use Text Structure and Format. Find clues to meaning by looking at how the author organized the information. Look at headings and captions.
Use Graphic Aids. Sometimes a selection has graphic aids, such as pictures, graphs, charts, diagrams, maps, or time lines. These often show important information that can help you understand the selection.
Adjust Reading Rate. A selection that has a lot of facts and details may have to be read more slowly than a story about a character your age.
Self-Question. Ask yourself questions as you read. This will help you check your understanding and focus on important ideas in the selection.