Author: Pathways

TAKS Reading Strategies
Prepared by The English Department
At George I. Sanchez Charter High School
October 27, 2004
I. Pre-reading Strategies
Effective Highlighting
1. Keywords in questions
a. Label questions either “brain” or “book”
2. Keywords in title
a. Write inference statement about passage based on title
3. Keywords in pictures viewing object
4. First and last sentences of each paragraph
a. Make them aware of differences (of what? The meanings or content of the 1st and last paragraphs?)
5. Unfamiliar words
Note Taking
6. Marginalia
a. Plot summary
b. Vocabulary
i. Content specific (Still not clear what exactly is supposed to be highlighted)
ii. Short answer question at beginning of each passage
II. Active Reading
Blocking/Chunking
1. Summarize
2. Reflect
3. Define
Use evaluative symbols
4. Pause/Reread rule
Review and revise
Non-stop reread
III. Answering Questions
Complete “book” questions
5. Process of elimination
a. Elimination
b. Selecting best answer
Complete “brain” questions
1. Use familiar words
2. First word
3. Review and check vocabulary
4. Process of elimination
a. Elimination
b. Best answer
IV. Review Performance on Multiple Choice Items
Check blocking symbols
This is where the flip charts end for the multiple choice reading portion. I think we need one or two more techniques students should use to monitor/self-evaluate their performance on this section.
V. Short Answer Questions
Proper labeling
1. Texts
a. fiction
b. Expository
c. both
2. 3-points on blank page
general answer
evidence
explanation
Paraphrase questions
3. word-substitution
4. right write above question
5. parse question
Locate evidence
6. review relevant notes
7. highlight sentence in passage
8. answer/integrate/explain
Check and test
9. mentally affirm checklist
Revise and edit
10. self-evaluation questioning
a. clarity
b. unity
11. proofread
a. GSP (grammar, spelling, punctuation)
Carefully record
12. check accuracy; put a fork in it