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.

1. Get Ready to Read! Actions Readers Take to Get Ready to Read

2. Journal Heading for Today Before Reading Actions 8/22/11 T-P-S :

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.)