One particular reading strategy that incorporates all three types of pre-reading, during reading, and post reading strategies is the High 5! Comprehension Strategy. There are five steps in the High 5! Comprehension strategy. The five steps are: 1) activating background knowledge; 2) questioning; 3) analyzing text structure; 4) create mental images; and 5) summarizing. The best way to teach The High5! Comprehension Strategy is through explicit instruction. Explicit instruction begins with the teacher modeling one strategy at a time for whole group instruction. The teacher can use a think-aloud to describe the why, when, and how they are using the strategy to make meaning. Then the teacher guides the whole group …show more content…
Analyzing text structure involves the students looking, “mentally for the text structure-looking for keywords, subheadings, and other text features that can reveal the structure the writer is using (Dymock & Nicholson, 2010, p. 168).”
Knowledge of one type of text structure does not transfer to all types of text. Therefore, the teacher needs to instruct the students in all types of texts they will be using in their classroom. The two main types of text structures content teachers will experience in their classroom are descriptive structures and sequential structures. In a descriptive structure the text is arranged to focus on attributes. The text can be arranged in a list, web, or matrix. In a sequential structure the text is arranged to focus on a series of events or steps that has happened over a certain period of time.
Step Four: Creating Mental …show more content…
A mental image may take on many different forms depending on what type of structure is being used. Therefore, the use of graphic organizers can become a beneficial tool for all students to use to help aide in their comprehension. This is especially true for students with a learning disability (Miller & Veatch, 2010, p. 159). There are many different types of graphic organizers: clustering, semantic webs and organizers, story maps, Venn Diagrams, time lines, flow charts, drawing or sketching, and cartoons. Using a graphic aid is one way to help students make the text structure concrete. It can provide structure and guidance as students move toward greater independence. As students become more skilled, they will be able to mentally create the images in their mind, but an actual visual image would be best for most