Reading Like a Reader
There are specific skills we can use to improve our experience and understanding of our
reading. The following are the main skills on which we will focus this school year.
Question
– Ask questions about anything in the text
which isn't obviously stated.
– Attempt to find answers to deepen your
understanding - even if you're guessing
wisely.
Examples:
• Why does the character feel that
way?
• What does this word mean? Is it
important to my understanding of the
text?
• How does this part fit into the whole
text?
Predict
– Make note of details which might
influence future action in the story.
– Analyze the details for patterns and to
form a prediction about future action.
Examples:
• The main character is going
to...because...
• The conflict will become more
intense when...
• This character will turn out to be bad
because...
Infer
– Make note of details which might suggest
something which is unstated.
– Analyze the details for patterns and form
a conclusion which attempts to deepen
your understanding of the text.
Examples:
• The main character is dependable
because she has always taken care of
her sister.
• The baseball field is an important
setting because it is described in such
detail.
Adapted from the work of Steve Peha at www.ttms.org
Connect
– Watch for details which remind you of
something else you know about or have
experienced.
– Analyze the details for degree of
similarity with the person or thing you are
using to make the connection.
Examples:
• The conflict reminds me of an
argument I once had with a friend
because...
• This character is a lot like...because...
Feel
– Be mindful of your emotional reaction to
the events or circumstances.
– Connect your feelings to the situation in
the text.
Examples:
• I feel sorry for this character
because...
• The description of this event made
me feel very peaceful because...
Evaluate
– Pay attention to the quality of the reading
experience.
– Identify the strengths and weaknesses of
that part of the text.
Examples:
• This text is difficult to stay with
because the action is so slow.
• This was an excellent chapter
because the main character's
experiences were believable.