What Are the Super 7 Reading Comprehension Strategies?
The "Super 7" reading comprehension strategies are a set of techniques designed to improve understanding and retention of written material. These strategies empower readers to actively engage with the text, going beyond simply decoding words.
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Activating Background Knowledge: Connecting prior knowledge to new information within the text. This helps build context and comprehension. Example: If reading about the American Revolution, activating knowledge about British colonialism facilitates deeper understanding.
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Questioning the Text: Formulating questions before, during, and after reading to guide comprehension and identify areas needing clarification. Example: Before reading, ask "What is this article likely to be about?". During reading: "What evidence supports this claim?". After reading: "What were the main conclusions?".
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Drawing Inferences: Making logical deductions based on evidence presented in the text and prior knowledge. This goes beyond explicitly stated information. Example: If a character is described as frowning and clenching their fists, one might infer they are angry.
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Determining Importance: Identifying key ideas and details, separating main points from supporting information. This helps prioritize information for better comprehension and summarization. Example: Using headings, subheadings, and topic sentences to identify central themes.
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Creating Mental Images: Visualizing the text to enhance understanding and recall. This can involve picturing characters, settings, and events. Example: While reading a descriptive passage about a forest, imagine the towering trees, dappled sunlight, and rustling leaves.
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Repairing Understanding: Identifying and correcting comprehension breakdowns. This involves actively monitoring understanding and employing strategies to resolve confusion. Example: If a word or concept is unclear, rereading, looking up definitions, or asking for clarification can help.
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Synthesizing Information: Combining information from different parts of the text to form a cohesive understanding. This requires integrating details and making connections between ideas. Example: Summarizing the main points of a chapter after reading it, pulling together all the key details into a concise summary.
These seven strategies, when used together, form a powerful toolkit for enhancing reading comprehension. They promote active engagement, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of written material.
