Boosting Reading SkillsBoosting Reading Skills

Basic StrategiesBasic Strategies

Reading StrategiesReading Strategies

Skimming for gist- move eyes quickly Skimming for gist- move eyes quickly across the pageacross the page

Scanning for details- move eyes diagonally Scanning for details- move eyes diagonally up and down looking for specific words, up and down looking for specific words, phrases or informationphrases or information

Highlighting and underlining- do not be Highlighting and underlining- do not be afraid to write and make notes on texts. afraid to write and make notes on texts. This is what they are for and is the best This is what they are for and is the best way of interrogating them. Once you find a way of interrogating them. Once you find a detail or piece of text you are looking for, detail or piece of text you are looking for, mark it. All close reading texts (and mark it. All close reading texts (and question papers) should be annotated, and question papers) should be annotated, and drawn / written all over.drawn / written all over.

Reading StrategiesReading Strategies

Predicting: Look for clues- what Predicting: Look for clues- what type of text is it? Where is it type of text is it? Where is it from? Who is it aimed at? How from? Who is it aimed at? How can you tell? What is its can you tell? What is its purpose? How does the opening purpose? How does the opening statement set up the reader for statement set up the reader for what is to come next? Use what is to come next? Use information like this to help you information like this to help you get a quick grip on new texts.get a quick grip on new texts.

Reading StrategiesReading Strategies

Sequencing: events will not Sequencing: events will not necessarily be told in order- use necessarily be told in order- use numbers, lines etc to help you numbers, lines etc to help you be clear what is happening.be clear what is happening.

Summarising: Read for gist. Summarising: Read for gist. What are the main points? This What are the main points? This provides an overview for more provides an overview for more detailed reading.detailed reading.

Reading StrategiesReading Strategies

Inferring: reading between the lines. Inferring: reading between the lines. What is said, is often not said, but What is said, is often not said, but implied.implied.

Using the context: be aware of what Using the context: be aware of what a piece is about and where words lie. a piece is about and where words lie. This will provide clues as to what it This will provide clues as to what it is actually about.is actually about.

Extend your vocabulary: use a Extend your vocabulary: use a dictionary and build a glossary of dictionary and build a glossary of new terms. Use them- in your own new terms. Use them- in your own essays across the school.essays across the school.

Reading StrategiesReading Strategies

Deconstruction and derivatives. Deconstruction and derivatives. Words are built from prefixes, Words are built from prefixes, suffixes and roots. Use clues like suffixes and roots. Use clues like this to help you understand new this to help you understand new vocabulary.vocabulary.

Questioning: ask your self questions- Questioning: ask your self questions- so if…then …? Writing questions so if…then …? Writing questions about a new text is the best way to about a new text is the best way to get a good grip of it because you get a good grip of it because you have to understand it and it have to understand it and it highlights the tricky bits highlights the tricky bits

Reading StrategiesReading Strategies

Clarifying: Check it makes sense. Clarifying: Check it makes sense. Read back and forward to make sure Read back and forward to make sure you understand all the links and that you understand all the links and that the ideas in your head fit with what is the ideas in your head fit with what is on the paperon the paper

Visualising: use diagrams or Visualising: use diagrams or images. Transforming a text into images. Transforming a text into notes and diagrams means notes and diagrams means understanding the writer’s message understanding the writer’s message and the relationships of ideas to and the relationships of ideas to each other. It can also make sense each other. It can also make sense of things in your own head.of things in your own head.