Three Stages of Reading

Able readers automatically use various techniques when reading expository text.  Generally referred to as pre-, during-, and post-reading strategies, they are never-the-less, interconnected and can be learned.  All three strategies are supported by current research on brain-based learning.

Pre-Reading strategies are designed to motivate and prepare the student for the information that will follow, and to establish the purpose for reading.  Various strategies are used to connect students to their background knowledge, make predictions, and develop questions.

During-Reading strategies have two purposes: to help the student identify the type of text and related reading strategies that work best (comprehension, inference, and making connections), and to begin to identify or paraphrase that information that will resolve the issues that were addressed in the pre-reading stage.      There are two types of during-reading strategies: content strategies and comprehension strategies.  Content strategies are designed to ensure that students understand and internalize the content.  Comprehension strategies are designed to help students break-down and summarize material.

After-reading strategies are designed to help students retain, evaluate, and apply the concepts and information that they read.