Comprehension, the core goal of reading, requires assessment before, during, and after reading. Readers must understand texts at their independent and instructional levels. A read-aloud, especially of more advanced texts, assesses listening comprehension.
Teachers employ literacy strategies effective for students of any age or grade level to gauge post-reading comprehension across scenarios.
Think-Pair-Share
This strategy fosters critical thinking, conversation, and collaboration, ideally following a whole-group reading comprehension lesson. In this approach, the class uses a think-pair-share exercise to respond collectively to a text.
Initially, students reflect on a provided question or prompt individually. Next, they share their thoughts before sharing their responses with the class.
This method effectively empowers students to lead their discussions while teachers facilitate, actively listening to student conversations and intervening with probing or clarifying questions as necessary.
Alternatively, teachers can adapt this strategy by grouping students and assigning specific prompts to each group. During the sharing phase, each group presents its insights on different aspects of the text, enabling classmates to learn from diverse perspectives.
Overall, the think-pair-share model enables teachers to assess students’ comprehension of various texts—whether articles, books, poems or any material chosen for a lesson or unit.
Graphic Organizers
Graphic organizers offer an effective method of assessing comprehension following whole or small group instruction and individual reading assignments. These tools support readers in organizing their thoughts before, during, and after reading, and they are tailored to specific comprehension skills, such as identifying main ideas, themes, or cause-and-effect relationships.
Teachers select texts that align with targeted comprehension standards and demonstrate how to use graphic organizers in initial literacy lessons. For instance, modeling the completion of a cause-and-effect organizer with nonfiction text during whole-group instruction prepares students. They can then work individually or in pairs to apply the organizer.
The same organizer reinforces comprehension practice in small group settings with leveled nonfiction texts. Subsequently, assigning a nonfiction article along with the organizer template allows students to independently demonstrate their understanding of cause and effect after reading.
Retelling/Summarizing
Retelling and summarizing are essential post-reading strategies demonstrating students’ text comprehension. While both methods aim to highlight story elements like sequence, characters, setting, problem, and solution across genres, they differ in execution.
Retelling involves recounting the story’s events in chronological order, emphasizing details. It is typically evaluated one-on-one between teacher and student, making it suitable for emerging and beginning readers. The teacher assesses the presence of story elements and the accuracy of the sequence in the student’s oral retelling.
In contrast, summarizing is a more advanced skill that requires students to convey succinctly the main idea, characters, problem, and solution of a text. It focuses less on narrative details and more on capturing the essence and key points of the story. Due to their complexity and sequential nature, summaries are typically written and are most appropriate for upper-grade and fluent readers.
QAR (Question-Answer Relationships)
Questioning is a vital comprehension strategy, and the QAR model enhances children’s grasp of question-answer relationships across different texts. It is effective post-lesson, whether conducted in whole or small groups and remains applicable after independent reading sessions.
The QAR method categorizes questions into four types to aid students in navigating various levels of text comprehension. “Right there” questions test literal comprehension, while “think and search” questions prompt inferential thinking.
On my, questions draw on prior knowledge, and “author and you” questions integrate text details with personal experiences. Educators can use a four-square template to assess students’ comprehension across these diverse question types following any reading material.
Exit Tickets
Exit tickets offer a swift method of assessing post-reading comprehension skills following whole or small-group literacy lessons. Each ticket typically includes one or two questions designed to gauge a child’s grasp of the text. Questions may take the form of multiple-choice, true-or-false, cloze sentences, or short answer responses.
Teachers can promptly identify students who have mastered a reading standard or objective using exit tickets.
The concise format of one or two questions also aids teachers in deciding whether to review and how to effectively teach comprehension standards for better student understanding. After collecting responses, teachers can clarify question comprehension and guide students in determining correct answers. This approach prepares students to confidently tackle similar questions in future readings.
Writing About Reading
While comprehension is the ultimate goal of reading, writing about reading represents the most advanced post-comprehension assignment for students. Short answer responses, graphic organizers, and written summaries are structured ways for students to practice written comprehension.
However, writing about reading goes beyond this by allowing students to analyze and interpret texts creatively. Examples include:
- Crafting perspectives on story problems from different characters.
- Proposing alternate endings.
- Speculating on future developments beyond the story’s conclusion.
Additionally, students can integrate research into their writing to demonstrate a more profound comprehension of nonfiction topics related to the text. Narrative and expository writing tied to the text further enable teachers to gauge students’ comprehensive understanding post-reading.
These assignments can be completed independently or during interactive writing lessons, offering educators diverse approaches to assess and enhance student comprehension.
Frequently Asked Question
What are post-reading strategies?
Post-reading strategies are techniques used after reading to enhance comprehension and deepen understanding of a text. They include summarizing, retelling, questioning, writing about reading, and using graphic organizers.
Why are post-reading strategies essential?
Post-reading strategies help students consolidate their understanding of a text. They encourage critical thinking, analysis, and reflection, essential skills for mastering comprehension.
How do graphic organizers help with post-reading comprehension?
Graphic organizers assist readers in organizing information and identifying key elements of a text, such as main ideas, characters, and relationships. They visually represent information to aid comprehension and memory retention.
What is the QAR model, and how does it improve comprehension?
The Question-Answer Relationship (QAR) model categorizes types of questions (right there, think and search, on my own, author, and you) to help students navigate different levels of text comprehension. It enhances their ability to interpret and respond to various questions effectively.
What is the benefit of using exit tickets for post-reading assessment?
Exit tickets provide a quick and efficient way to assess students’ comprehension immediately after a lesson. They help teachers identify which students have grasped the reading objectives and which may need additional support or re-teaching.
How does writing about reading enhance comprehension?
Writing about reading encourages students to analyze, interpret, and apply their understanding of a text creatively. It promotes more profound engagement with the material and helps students articulate their thoughts and insights effectively.
Conclusion
Educators and students embark on a journey that enhances understanding beyond the text. By employing techniques like summarizing, questioning, using graphic organizers, and writing about reading, learners solidify their grasp of content and cultivate critical thinking and analytical skills.
These strategies empower students to engage deeply with texts, make connections, and articulate their insights effectively. As educators continue to innovate and tailor these approaches to diverse learning environments, they pave the way for enriched comprehension and lifelong learning.
