Students need to develop thoughtful interpretations of what they read. They need to approach the task as active makers of meaning. Teachers can encourage students to become active participants in the classroom community by tailoring their instructional strategies and methods to the needs of their classes and the individuals in those classes. Instructional activities such as the following might be considered.
Help students prepare to read by:
- encouraging them to activate what they already know about situations, events, characters, and ideas in the text
- providing important background information relevant to the selection in order to expand their knowledge
- explaining the conventions, techniques, and vocabulary employed by the writer
- helping them set purpose(s) for reading.
Help students employ effective reading strategies during reading by:
- encouraging them to become involved with the text
- modelling the strategies that effective readers use as they read
- guiding the reading process with questions and activities that help them build their own understanding of what they are reading.
Help students understand and respond after reading by:
- encouraging them to share their initial responses through discussion and other activities
- encouraging them to move beyond their initial understanding and develop more meaningful interpretations and connections
- expanding their reading experience to literary analysis
- clarifying and extending their thinking about language and literature through related writing, speaking, viewing, listening, and further reading activities.
