1. Predicting

Predicting is a reading strategy that helps readers guess what may happen next using clues and background knowledge. This strategy helps readers understand a story better. For example, dark clouds and thunder help us predict a storm. If someone walks while using a phone, the person may bump into something. Zion may fail his test because he played video games instead of studying, and Tim might get sick after getting wet in the rain. Good readers use clues to think about what will happen next in a story.

2. Annotation

Annotation is a reading strategy that helps readers understand and remember a text by actively interacting with it. Readers can underline important ideas, highlight evidence, and write notes or summaries while reading. Before reading, it is important to know the purpose and skim the text. Annotation also helps readers think critically by asking questions, reacting to ideas, and connecting the text to personal experiences. This strategy improves comprehension, memory, and writing skills.

3. Making connections

Making connections is a reading strategy that helps readers understand a text by linking it to personal experiences, other texts, or real-world events. There are three types of connections: text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world. Text-to-self connections relate the story to the reader’s own life. Text-to-text connections compare the text with another book or story. Text-to-world connections connect the text to real-life events or issues, such as environmental problems in The Lorax. Making connections helps readers think more deeply and understand texts better.

4. Using context clues

Context clues are hints that help readers understand unfamiliar words. Readers can find clues in pictures, definitions, examples, synonyms, and antonyms.

For example, pictures can explain words like craters, and definitions can explain words like skyscrapers. Synonyms and antonyms also help readers guess meanings, such as swiftly meaning fast and spacious meaning large.

Using context clues helps readers understand words and improve comprehension.

Check Your Understanding

Match each reading strategy with the correct example.

<aside> 💡

1. Predicting
2. Annotation
3. Making connections
4. Using context clues </aside>

<aside> 💬

1. Underlining important ideas and writing notes while reading.
2. Looking at the clues in the story and guessing what may happen next.
3. Connecting the text to personal experiences or real-world situations.
4. Using hints in the sentence to understand unfamiliar words. </aside>