Reading is Thinking
When students fall in love with books they can relate to, magic happens in the classroom. Reading out loud to students while modeling how readers think is essential for their development. This thinking-intensive reading approach means students must be actively engaged mentally whenever they read or listen to reading.
Children already know how to think, but we need to teach them to be aware of their thinking process during reading. We can guide them to become strategic readers by helping them construct meaning from the text and recognize the power of their own thinking. This awareness transforms the reading experience from simply running eyes along a page to deeply engaging with content.
Teaching comprehension strategies helps students access and use knowledge effectively. Strategies like activating background knowledge, asking questions, drawing inferences, and synthesizing information are crucial tools. When students apply these strategies, they turn information into knowledge by actively thinking about it.
Reading Tip: Try modeling your thinking process by placing sticky notes with your thoughts and connections as you read aloud. This simple technique shows students how active readers interact with text!
As students build their knowledge foundation through reading, they create a framework that supports ongoing learning and understanding. This cycle of thinking and comprehension strengthens with each reading experience.
