Reading for Meaning

Reading for Meaning is a research-based strategy that helps all readers build skills that proficient readers use to make sense of challenging texts.

Reading for Meaning works for : 

Any information source - data charts, film clips, websites, lab experiments, etc. because it forces students to analyze information closely and justify their interpretations with evidence.

Does not work for:

phases of critical reading include:

• Preview and predicting before reading.

• Actively searching for relevant information during reading.

• Reflect on learning after reading.

Implementing Reading for Meaning in the Classroom

1. Identify a short text that you want students to "read for meaning." Any kind of text is fine, article, graph, blog post, primary document, etc.

2. Generate a list of statements about the text. Students will ultimately search for evidence that supports or refutes each statement. Statements can be objectively true or false, or they can be open to interpretation and designed to provoke discussion and debate.

3. Introduce the topic of the text and have students preview the statements before they begin to read.

4. Have students record evidence for and against each statement while (or after)  they read.

5. Have students discuss their evidence in pairs or small groups. Encourage groups to reach a consensus about which statements are supported and which are refuted by the text.

6. Conduct a whole-class discussion in which students share and justify their positions.

7. Use students' responses to evaluate their understanding of the reading and their ability to support a position with evidence.

Sample Middle School Science Lesson:

• (See documents below)