March+5+Inservice+Strategies+for+difficult+texts

=Dealing with difficult reading passages= This was created by Shawana Shapiro PH.D Middlebury College

Individual words/sentences

 * Mark '?' an move on
 * Look for clues in the rest of the paragraph
 * Don't linger too long! You can always skip a passage (particularly if it's not that long).

Short sections

 * Ajust reading speed
 * Read aloud
 * Identify key words
 * Focus on first and last sentences of paragraphs
 * Make personal connections to anything in the text
 * Consider WHY you don't understand. Is it...
 * a key word/concept (then maybe Google it)
 * the structure (then look for subject/verb)
 * too abstract? (then read aloud and try to make a connection)
 * boring or repetitive (then keep reading and look for connections)
 * Bring questions to class to ask peers and/or teacher

Most of the text

 * Make sure you preview
 * Map out the text- at least know keywords and topics
 * Make your own Reading log: main point/concept + comment/question/connection
 * Don't be afraid to read secondary sources
 * Don't give up- try to get at least a few points from the text!