Elementary Reading Comprehension & Vocabulary Strategies
In this set of video vignettes, Virginia elementary teachers demonstrate vocabulary and comprehension strategies that can be used in elementary classrooms to promote students’ vocabulary development and comprehension skills. Each of the strategies presented is taken from the Enhanced Scope and Sequence for English Standards of Learning. The strategies and activities presented in the vignettes may be adapted and used with students at all grade levels.
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Introduction 1:32
Introduction by Dr. Mark R. Allan, director of the office of Standards, Curriculum & Instruction, Virginia Department of Education.
Read-Aloud 6:58
The teacher reads aloud materials that are interesting and engaging for the purpose of increasing students’ vocabulary knowledge and comprehension skills. Additional information on the Read-Aloud strategy can be located on page 118 of the English Standards of Learning (SOL) Enhanced Scope and Sequence (PDF).
Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review 8:07
Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review (SQ3R) is a study strategy that students may use throughout the reading process. Additional information on the SQ3R strategy can be located on page 119 of the English SOL Enhanced Scope and Sequence (PDF).
Know, Want, Learn 12:01
Know, Want, Learn (KWL) is a framework that is used to connect students’ prior knowledge to what they are actively learning.
Additional information on the KWL strategy can be located on page 120 of the English SOL Enhanced Scope and Sequence (PDF).
Think-Pair-Share 6:00
Think-Pair-Share is a discussion strategy that can be used as a prereading activity, problem-solving strategy, or as a follow-up activity.
Additional information on the Think-Pair-Share strategy can be located on page 122 of the English SOL Enhanced Scope and Sequence (PDF).
Sticky Notes 6:50
Sticky notes are used to mark sections in a text that students would like to return to, difficult sections for which they require clarification, for instance, or powerful or clear passages they would like to share with others. These stopping places can be used to foster discussion and inspire writing. Additional information on the Sticky Notes strategy can be located on page 123 of the English SOL Enhanced Scope and Sequence (PDF).
Think-Alouds 3:18
Think-Alouds help students understand the mental processes readers engage in when constructing meaning from texts.
Additional information on the Think-Alouds strategy can be located on page 124 of the English SOL Enhanced Scope and Sequence (PDF).
Question-Answer Relationships 10:34
Question-Answer Relationships (QAR) is the basis for three comprehension strategies, including 1) locating information; 2) determining text structures and how these structures may convey information; and 3) determining when an inference would be required or invited.
Additional information on the QAR strategy can be located on page 125 of the English SOL Enhanced Scope and Sequence (PDF).
Reciprocal Teaching 6:52
Reciprocal teaching uses the skills of predicting, questioning, clarifying, and summarizing to interact with challenging text.
Additional information on the Reciprocal Teaching strategy can be located on page 127 of the English SOL Enhanced Scope and Sequence (PDF).
Anticipation Guides 8:07
Anticipation guides can be used to activate and assess students’ prior knowledge, to establish a purpose for reading, and to motivate students by stimulating their interest. Additional information on the Anticipation Guides strategy can be located on page 135 of the English SOL Enhanced Scope and Sequence (PDF).
Story Face 8:09
The Story Face is a graphic organizer that aids students’ comprehension of narrative text. Additional information on the Story Face strategy can be located on page 129 of the English SOL Enhanced Scope and Sequence (PDF).
Two-Column Notes 13:46
Two-column notes help students think critically about text.
Additional information on the Two-Column Notes strategy can be located on page 130 of the English SOL Enhanced Scope and Sequence (PDF).
Selective Underlining 10:40
Selective underlining is a study strategy that enables students to understand what the author is trying to say and to organize information in texts.
Additional information on the Selective Underlining strategy can be located on page 134 of the English SOL Enhanced Scope and Sequence (PDF).
Concept Sorts 7:43
Concept sorts are activities in categorization. Students can sort objects, pictures and/or words by concepts or meaning. Additional information on Concept Sorts can be located on page 141 of the English SOL Enhanced Scope and Sequence (PDF).
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