The Strategies Of Comprehension

844 Words2 Pages

Comprehension is a process in which readers construct meaning by interacting with text through the combination of prior knowledge and previous experience, information in the text, and the stance the reader takes in relationship to the text (Pardo, 2004). As educators, we should use strategies that will build student comprehension. These strategies are called before, during, and after reading strategies. Before strategies activate the students’ prior knowledge and set a purpose for reading. During strategies help the students make connections, monitor their understanding, generate questions, and stay focused. After strategies provide students the opportunity to summarize, question, reflect, discuss, and respond to text (“Classroom Strategies,” …show more content…

To utilize this strategy, the teacher takes key words from the reading material and displays them for the students. The main topic is in the center of all the other words. The words are displayed in some interesting visual presentation, they may be placed at angels or slight u shapes, on the board or on handout sheets. The students then work in small groups using the words to make sentences that are in relationship with the main topic. After the students create their sentences they complete the reading assignment. As the students see the terms in the reading assignment, they check their sentences and make the necessary modifications so the words fit in the sentences correctly. This strategy encourages students to brainstorm while working in groups. My concentration is in science, so I will give an example of how to use word splash for a lesson on biochemistry. Please refer to Table 1, word splash handout at the end of this paper to see the words the students will be given. After reviewing the words, the students will then create sentences such as: a) Symbols are used to represent compounds, b) Elements are the basic building block of all matter, or c) A chemical formula is a group of symbols. Once the students create their sentences, they would read the unit from the textbook, and check their sentences to see if the students were able to use the terms

Open Document