Learning to Read:

Understanding the Reading Process

Lucha & Stefanie
January 2016

Reading is Thinking
When reading we think within the text (think of it as everything we do to propel ourselves forward)
We read the words and put together information so that we understand the facts or follow a story.

We reading we think beyond the text (think of it as bringing our own thinking to the reading)
Reading can stimulate memories, what we already know, and predictions about what will happen, why
the characters act the way they do, and ideas that the writer many have implied.

We reading we think about the text (think of it as considering the text as an object)
We might notice the story starts in a surprising way or we might be critical of its ending. We make
decisions about whether or not we like the text, whether we think it is true, or if it would interest
others. We reflect on the turning points.
We are thinking analytically and reading critically.

Reading is similar to riding a bicycle...

Reading is a true, interrelated systems of strategic actions that happen

simultaneously. It is a complex process.

How do we encourage thinking within the text

behaviors in young children?
Solve Words: Support word solving behaviors: expanding the words the children
know when they hear them.
cat-cats
happy- unhappy
walk-walked
Monitor and Correct: Read aloud stories and other texts so as to help children learn
how reading should sound.
Search for and Use Information: Encourage reading pictures and telling a story
based on the pictures as it allows children to search for and use information.

How do we encourage thinking within the text

behaviors in young children?
Summarize: Encourage reading pictures and telling a story based on the pictures as
it allows children to increase their memory and attention to important details.
Adjust Reading for Purpose and Type of Text: By reading aloud we model and
makes visible the various ways we adjust reading for purpose (i.e. slow down to look at
a word carefully then speed up again, we stop to think or look back in the text).
Maintain Fluency: When reading aloud, we use intonations, use character voices, we
pause, we stress certain words in sentences to make reading sound meaningful. We
read at a reasonable rate (not too fast, not too slow).

How do we encourage thinking beyond the text

behaviors in young children?
Predict: Allow children to anticipate what will happen next.
Make Connections: Carefully select text to build knowledge. Prompt deeper
connections by talking about what they have in common or how they felt.

How do we encourage thinking beyond the text

behaviors in young children?
Synthesize Information: Help children think differently about everyday life, revise
our opinion of the person from the book, or share gained insight from the new
knowledge acquired.
Infer: Support children reading between the lines to conclude, empathize,
express reasons, summarize, investigate motivations, in order to make ideas
explicit.

How do we encourage thinking about the text

behaviors in young children?
Analyze: Invite children to notice the similarities in an author and/or illustrators
works.
Critique: Encourage discussions that allow us to evaluate the work. What was your
favorite part and why? What didnt you like and why? Does the story seem believable
and why?

Classroom strategies that will support beginning literacy

Create attractive reading areas with abundant resources (fiction, non-fiction, picture books, and
poetry)
Explore e-books
Read aloud every single day.
Encourage book talk such as setting, time, characters, plot, ideas and themes
Lead conversations during reading. It is important that readers have a large, oral
vocabulary so make sure to extend their thinking. Ask for a complete sentence.
What are you thinking will happen?
Lead conversations after reading. It is important that readers have a large, oral vocabulary
so make sure to extend their thinking. Ask for a complete sentence.
What stood out for you? What puzzled you? What reminded you of something else youd
read? What did you like or dislike about the book? How did you feel when we were
reading this section or this book?

CONVERSATION IS GOLD