Thinking Strategies Used by Proficient Readers

This is also from the Chris Tovani program. It's based on research synthesis of P. David Pearson and Janice A. Dole.

"A strategy is an intentional plan that is flexible and can be adapted to meet the demands of the situation.

Proficient Readers:

• Activate background knowledge and make connections between new and known information.
• Quesion the text in order to clarify ambiguity and deepen understanding.
• Draw inferences using background knowledge and clues from the text.
• Determine importance in order to distinguish details from main ideas.
• Monitor comprehension in order to make sure meaning is being constructed.
• Reread and employ fix-up strategies to repair confusion.
• Use sensory images to enhance comprehension and visualize the reading.
• Synthesize and extend thinking.

Interrogating Texts: 6 Reading Habits to Develop in Your First Year at Harvard

Harvard College Library (the Lamont Library) has posted this handout about how to develop the habit of critial reading because, "Critical reading -- active engagement and interaction with texts -- is essential to your academic success at Harvard, and to your academic growth." Success in high schools that are trying to send kids to college, too!

What are the 6 reading habits?

Previewing
Annotating
Outline, summarize, analyze
Look for repetitions and patterns
Contextualize
Compare and Contrast

Each heading is followed by a succint description and several bullet points of examples.