This document provides information on five actions readers can take to prepare for reading: setting a purpose, making a prediction, previewing, activating background knowledge, and identifying text structure. It defines each action, explains why it is important, and provides guidance on how to perform each action. Setting a purpose helps the reader pay attention to what's important. Making a prediction and previewing help the reader set a purpose and pay attention. Activating background knowledge helps the reader connect to and learn from the text. Identifying text structure helps the reader sequence and organize the information.
3. Think-Pair-Share THINK-Think to yourself about the actions you take to get ready to read any kind of text. Write down 2 things in your journal. PAIR-Share your thinking with your table group. Add 1 idea SHARE-Add 2 more ideas to your list
4. BR Action #1-Set a Purpose What is It? Deciding why you are reading a particular story or article. Why is it important? Knowing why you are reading affects HOW you read. Helps you pay attention to what’s important. How do I do it? Think about what and why. Look at title, headings, and pictures to decide
5. BR Action #2-Make a prediction What is It? Deciding what a story is about or what you think you will learn. Why is it important? Helps you to set a purpose for reading. Helps you pay attention to what’s important. How do I do it? Look at title, headings, and pictures to make a prediction
6. BR Action #3-Previewing What is It? Scanning over a piece of text before you read. Why is it important? Helps you to get an idea of how the story is put together (text structure) and/or possible obstacles to your reading. How do I do it? Flip through the story and look for chapter titles, pictures, headings, maps, charts, graphs, bolded words or words that stand out to you.
7. BR Action #4-Activating Background Knowledge (BK) What is It? Pulling out your mental file folder on what you already know about a topic, author, or genre. Why is it important? Helps you to connect to the story and makes it easy to learn new information. How do I do it? Use the title, headings/subheadings, summary, pictures to bring up any prior knowledge. If you have no background knowledge, you can read a book about the topic or watch a video clip.
8. BR Action #5-Text Structure What is It? How a story or article is put together. Why is it important? Helps you to sequence and organize information How do I do it? Look for particular features for fiction-setting, characters, plot, problem, solution that match a certain kind of fiction Look for particular features for nonfiction-headings/subheadings, photos, maps, charts, captions, etc. Also look at how the piece is written (Cause/Effect, Sequence, Problem/Solution, etc.)
