Three Strategies for Reading Nonfiction Texts

Here are the strategies that we discussed and practiced during today's class. Use them!!

1. Preview and predict. You will understand more of what you read if you preview the text before you actually start reading and make predictions about what information is included. The strategy: Before you start reading an assignment, look at the images and the headings. Try to figure out how the text is organized and ask yourself questions like “What will I learn?” when I read this assignment.


2. Identify the key concepts. The Usborne Encyclopedia of World Religions is chock-full of information, so your first goal is to figure out which parts of the text matter the most. The strategy: After you read a page or two, write down the concept/idea that you think is the most important. Focus on concepts that I have highlighted during class, because I use classtime to emphasize the parts of the book that are especially important for understanding each religion.


3. Monitor your comprehension. When reading nonfiction, it’s very important to pay attention to whether you are actually understanding the text. The strategy: After reading a section of the text, tell your mom, dad, a sibling, a friend or a pet what you just read about. Try to highlight two interesting or surprising details from the text.