Strategies to Improve Comprehension of Informational Text

Previewing Text Features Before Reading

Read the title and sub - title. Read the headings.

Look at the pictures, charts, illustrations. Read the captions.

Look at the bold words? Is there a key for the bold words? If yes, read the definitions.

Reviewing questions before reading the passage

What is the purpose for reading the passage?

Providing Background Knowledge or Activating Prior Knowledge about the text before reading the text

Asking questions about the text topic and discussing student's knowledge on the topic

Discussion of Possible Answers to Questions

After reading text and question, discuss possible answers with peers before deciding on an answer

Highlighting Evidence in the text that supports answers to questions

Highlight the evidence and number it so it correlates with the question being answered