INTRODUCTION

Reading is defined as a cognitive process that involves

decoding symbols to arrive at meaning. Reading is an active
process of constructing meanings of words. Reading with a
purpose helps the reader to direct information towards a
goal and focuses their attention. Although the reasons for
reading may vary, the primary purpose of reading is to
understand the text. Reading is a thinking process. It allows
the reader to use what he or she may already know, also
called prior knowledge. During this processing of
information, the reader uses strategies to understand what
they are reading, uses themes to organize ideas, and uses
textual clues to find the meanings of new words. Each of the
three components of reading is equally important. Let's take
a look at the components!
READING STRATEGIES

1. Teach your primary grade students the basics of guided

reading.

 Review letters and letter sounds with the class so

students can sound out words.
 Review sight words so students can recognize them.

 Show students how to use pictures as cues for the

context of the story.

 Remind students to look for word clues if they start to

have trouble reading their texts.

2. Divide your primary-grade students into groups of 4 to
6 students. Make the group smaller--3 to 5 students--if
you are working with first grade students.
 Select a text for the guided reading group.
 Check your book choices to make sure they match the

students' knowledge base, are interesting, give some

challenges so students get practice in problem-solving
and encourage your students to move to the next step
in reading.
 Give each student a copy of the book.

3. Guide each student during the guided reading time.

Move around and sit with each student, giving small
"reminder" clues to any students who are having
trouble reading their texts.

o Ask the student to read his or her text to you. If he or

she gets stuck, say, "Does that make sense? Try that
sentence one more time. Look at the beginning of the
word and sound it out."
4. Teach students how to predict what may happen next.

 Read a sentence from the book out loud.

 Tell the group, "I think _____ will happen next because

of what I just read and because of the picture on the

page." You are now inferring what may happen.
5. Time each guided reading session, keeping it short for
younger students in primary grades.

 Keep guided reading sessions at 15 to 20 minutes each

for reading groups in the second grade.
 Limit guided reading sessions for Kindergarteners and
first graders to 15 minutes.
6. Show the group how to recognize print concepts--
capitalized letters, spacing between words and the
different punctuation marks, if your students are in
second grade.

 Teach students that the first letter of the first word of

each sentence gets capitalized.
 Explain to your students that different punctuation

marks mean different things.

 Teach the class what periods, question marks and

exclamation marks mean.

 Explain to your class that books are written with spaces

between the words so readers can recognize each word.

7. Hold another guided reading session after teaching
your students the basics of punctuation, capitalization,
spacing and prediction.

a. Sit with each student and listen to each one read.

b. Offer your help to a student if he or she is having
trouble reading a sentence or a word.
c. Review the basics with this student.
d. Ask the student to read from his or her text again.
TYPES OF READING
1. Skimming is the most rudimentary type of
reading. Its object is to familiarize you as
quickly as possible with the material to be
read.
2. Scanning is a skill that requires that you read
quickly while looking for specific information.
To scan a reading text, you should start at the
 top of the page and then move your eyes
quickly toward the bottom. Generally,
scanning is a technique that is helpful when
you are looking for the answer to a known
question.
3. Close reading is the most important skill you
need for any form of literary studies. It means
paying especially close attention to what is
printed on the page. Close reading means not
only reading and understanding the meanings
of the individual printed words, but also
involves making yourself sensitive to all the
nuances and connotations of language as it is
used by skilled writers.

Examples of Reading Strategies

S/N ENGLISH FULFULDE
1 summarizing Rammidinki ko jangi
2 sequencing Fotidinki ko jangi
3 Comparing Halutindirki bee
and senndindirki ko jangi
contracting
4 Drawing Ragare diidugo ko jangi
conclusion
5 Self- Yamtuki hoore-mum ko
questioning jangi
6 Problems Wawtugo billaaji ko jangi
solving