Strategies for Reading Informational Text

Since I have a background as a reading specialist, reading is incorporated throughout my science class.  Here are some of my favorite researched based strategies for informational text.

Reciprocal Teaching

I have tweaked this strategy to meet my students' needs and fit the text I often use.   The students split their paper into four sections before they read a section of the text. They title each box Questions, Evidence, Clarify, and Summary.  

Questions Turn the section headings into questions.	Evidence Answer each question as you read the section.
Clarify Clarify anything that is unclear. I often guide the students to put the vocabulary here or any points in bold.	Summary Read through the questions, evidence, and clarify boxes to construct a summary of the section.

I scaffold this strategy when I first begin to teach it at the beginning of the year.  We do a few together in the first unit. Once they are a little more comfortable, I have them work cooperatively with their table. The students rotate the roles of Question, Evidence, and Clarify as they read out loud, then they each write their summary.  Eventually, they are able to do this on their own.

SQP2RS- Squeepers

This is a great strategy for reading the science content that was developed by Mary Ellen Vogt. Here is a link with great posters!

BEAT THE TEACHER

The students really get into this one! Everyone silently reads a section of the text. As they read, the students construct questions that the teacher will have to answer. As they ask me questions, I give Patriot Awards, our school tickets, for  the more thoughtful questions. I look for questions from all 4 QAR categories (Right-there questions, Think and Search, Author and You, and On My Own) and reward more Patriot Award for higher level questions.