Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to comprehend independently read texts that require sustained reading by activating background and word knowledge, connecting and understanding sentences and whole text, and monitoring for meaning.

Materials and Prep

• 1-2 age-appropriate books or short stories
• Paper and pencil
• Quiet reading area

Before starting the lesson, make sure you have a comfortable and quiet reading area set up.

Activities

• Story Time: Choose a book or short story to read independently. Take your time and read each sentence carefully.
• Word Detective: Write down any words you don't understand on a piece of paper. After reading, look up the meanings of those words and write them next to the word.
• Story Retelling: After finishing the story, retell the main events in your own words. Try to include the beginning, middle, and end.

Talking Points

• Background Knowledge: "Before reading a story, think about what you already know. This can help you understand the story better."
• Word Knowledge: "If you come across a word you don't know, write it down and look up the meaning. This can help you understand the story more."
• Connecting Sentences: "Try to connect the sentences in the story to understand how they are related. This will help you follow the story better."
• Understanding the Whole Text: "After reading the whole story, try to retell it in your own words. This shows that you understand the main events of the story."
• Monitoring for Meaning: "While reading, if something doesn't make sense, stop and think about it. You can go back and reread to make sure you understand."