Reading strategies

By Kyle Grebert

My confidence beforeThese are the kind of passages or books I

would read before.

Confidence before cont.Before, when I read passages I wouldn’t

underline, highlight or do anything.

Confidence before cont.Before, sometimes I was too confident and I

would read part of a book and say that I understood everything and that I didn’t need to read any more of it.

I am normally a confident reader but sometimes if the passages had words that I didn’t know I would give up on the passage or book.

Our researchable questionWhich reading strategies help kids do better on tests?

VariablesManipulated variable: The reading strategies

used

Responding variable: The score on the kids test

Controlled variable: Same passage, same test, same order in which we gave the test.

Our “schedule” and plan

At the start the students would read a passage. Then they would do a test. Then they would read the same passage with a reading strategy, then do another similar test.

Time Management 10 minutes to read passage and/or use

strategies10 minutes to take test

Groups of students:Group 1:

2 students, 1 boy, 1 girlStrategy: Control

Group 2:2 students,1 boy, 1 girl

Strategy: Underlining and/or circling

Group 3:2 students, 1 boy, 1 girlStrategy: taking notes

Group 4: 2 boys

Strategy: Discussion

Group 5:2 Girls

Strategy: discussion

The PassageCaffeine, the stimulant in coffee, has been called “the most widelyused psychoactive substance on Earth.” Snyder, Daly and Brunshave recently proposed that caffeine affect behavior by counteringthe activity in the human brain of a naturally occurring chemicalcalled adenosine. Adenosine normally depresses neuron firing inmany areas of the brain. It apparently does this by inhibiting therelease of neurotransmitters, chemicals that carry nerve impulsesfrom one neuron to the next. Like many other agents that affectneuron firing, adenosine must first bind to specific receptors onneuronal membranes. There are at least two classes of thesereceptors, which have been designated A1 and A2. Snyder et alpropose that caffeine, which is structurally similar to adenosine, isable to bind to both types of receptors, which prevents adenosinefrom attaching there and allows the neurons to fire more readily thanthey otherwise would. 

The Passage cont.For many years, caffeine’s effects have been attributed to itsinhibition of the production of phosphodiesterase, an enzyme thatbreaks down the chemical called cyclic AMP. A number ofneurotransmitters exert their effects by first increasing cyclic AMPconcentrations in target neurons. Therefore, prolonged periods at theelevated concentrations, as might be brought about by aphosphodiesterase inhibitor, could lead to a greater amount ofneuron firing and, consequently, to behavioral stimulation. ButSnyder et al point out that the caffeine concentrations needed toinhibit the production of phosphodiesterase in the brain are muchhigher than those that produce stimulation. Moreover, othercompounds that block phosphodiesterase’s activity are notstimulants. . "PASSAGE A- “Caffeine”."http://kencil.files.wordpress.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr 2012. <http://kencil.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/caffeine-passage.pdf>.

Test number 11. Snyder, Daly and _____have recently proposed that caffeine affect behavior by countering the activity in the human brain of a naturally occurring chemical called adenosine.A. BurnsB. BrunsC. MurphyD. Anderson 2.The stimulant in coffee is____A. SugarB. HormonesC. Caffeine D. Potassium 3. Which of the following affects neuron firing?A. Endorphins B. CarbonC. DopamineD. Adenosine    

Test number 1 cont.4. Which of the following is a class of receptors?A. A1B. F5C. Neural CordD. REM 5. Caffeine has been called _____A. The most energetic substance on Earth.B. The most addictive substance on EarthC. The most effective method of staying awake.D. The most used energetic substance on Earth.

6. Explain what a phosphodiesterase is, what it does and why it is being discussed in the artice.

Answer Key Test 11. B2. C3. D4. A5. D6. Varying Answers

Test number 21. Phosphodiesterase is a chemical that breaks down ____A. Folic acidB. CaffeineC. Cyclic AMPD. A2 2. Snyder et al propose that caffeine ____A. Causes depression.B. Is able to bind to both types of receptors A1 and A2.C. Lowers your IQ.D. Will become twice as expensive in 6 months. 3. Snyder, Daly and Bruns have recently proposed that caffeine ____A. Affects behavior by countering neurons.B. Affects behavior by countering blood-flow.C. Affects behavior by countering muscles in the brain.D. Affects behavior by countering adenosine. 

Test number 2 cont.4. How many classes of receptors on neuronal membranes?A. Exactly 2B. NoneC. At least 2 D. Less than 2 5. Why is caffeine able to blind both receptors A1 and A2A. It is structurally similar to adenosine.B. It is more energetic than adenosine.C. It is less potent than adenosine.D. It is able to travel faster than adenosine.  6. Summarize the article.

Answer Key Test 21. C2. B3. D4. C5. A6. Varying Answers

Results Questions;Maddie Sheldon: Test #1: 4/9 , Test #2: 2/9Micah Green: Test#1: 7/9, Test #2: 6/9 Notes:Mercedes Goldberg: Test #1: 9/9 , Test #2: 9/9Matthew Sodd: Test#1: 7/9, Test #2: 6/9 

Results cont.UnderliningKatie Lambert: Test #1: 7/9, Test #2: 4/9JW Naughton: Test#1: 6/9, Test #2: 5/9 Discussion BoysBret Leupen: Test #1: 3/9 , Test #2: 4/9Colin Mcanich: Test#1: 4/9, Test #2: 4/9 Discussion GirlsRachel Kuntz: Test #1: 2/9 , Test #2: 6/9Megan Proffit: Test#1: 4/9 , Test #2: 6/9

ConclusionWe found that the best kind of reading

strategy is partner reading. We also found the one that helps the most after partner reading is note-taking. One problem that might make the results less reliable was that some people said that the test 2 was harder than test 1.

My confidence duringDuring this unit I realized that I was only

using a few reading strategies. I was especially re-reading. I was also underlining a bit more and taking more notes. I also started reading out loud more in class and being less worried that people would laugh at me.

My confidence afterNow I underline and use other reading

strategies.

My confidence after I realized that during this unit I used re-

reading a lot. Because of this knowledge I am now going to re-read passages I don’t understand. I will also underline words that I think will help me. I will also take notes.

RecommendationsIf you are a student in middle school you

should try and partner read as much as you can. If you can’t partner read then you should take notes.

If you are a middle school teacher you should try and make students partner read or take notes.