Brittanie Gaas

Strategy
Notebook

Table of Contents
Pre Reading:
Brainstorming
Advanced Organizers
Over Views

During Reading:

Monitoring Comprehension
Word Identification
Semantic Organizers

After Reading:

Answering Questions
Author Consideration
Summarizing

Vocabulary Strategies:

Visual and Verbal Word Association

Vocabulary Frames
Four Flap Foldable

English Language Learners Strategies:

Story Impressions

Magnet Words
Knowledge Rating Scale

Writing Strategies:

Journal
Cubing
Writing Roulette

Study Skills/Test Taking Strategies:

Ice Cream Cone

Step By Step Chart
Time Line

Pre Reading
APA Citation: Porter, Karla, M.Ed., Pre-reading Strategies
http://www.studygs.net/preread.htm
Strategy Name: Brainstorming
Step by Steps:
1. Introduce the topic of the lesson
2. Have students talk amongst each other about the topic
3. Have student then write down their thoughts on paper
-Why should we be learning about this?
-When will we be using this?
4. Have students get together and have an open class discussion to share
everyones ideas aloud.
Strengths:
This will make students think about the lesson that is about to be taught. How will
they use this in everyday life? Why do they have to learn about this particular
lesson? It can also get students thinking about what they have previously learned
and how they might use it on the lesson they are boat to be taught.
Example:


APA Citation: Porter, Karla, M.Ed., Pre-reading Strategies
http://www.studygs.net/preread.htm
Strategy Name: Advanced Organizers
Step by Steps:
1. Relate a new topic to something the students already know
2. Make a chart based on prior material you will use for the new lesson
Strengths:
Many students of visual learners, and organizers, chart, or graphs help them
greatly. It is very important to make sure you are putting useful information on the
chart!
Example:

APA Citation: Porter, Karla, M.Ed., Pre-reading Strategies

http://www.studygs.net/preread.htm
Strategy Name: Over Views
Step by Steps:
1. Introduce the new lesson
2. Discuss information about the selection aloud
3. Show pictures and films over the new material
Strengths:

I believe this strategy has a lot of strength. Showing pictures will help students
remember what they have learned or are about to learn.
Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8zzgRCyMCc

During Reading:

APA Citation: Adler, C.R. (Ed). 2001, Seven Strategies to Teach Students Text
Comprehension
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/3479/

Strategy Name: Monitoring Comprehension

Step by Steps:
1. Teach lesson
2. Some students may be having some problems understanding
3. Be aware of what they do understand-Identify what they do not
4. Have students make a story map
Strengths:
Strengths of Monitoring Comprehension is to help students who may be lost in
the lesson. It will help them identify what they do not understand, and let the
teacher reteach them, It will also make sure students are doing the lesson
correctly.
Example:

APA Citation: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997, Word Recognition Skills and
Strategies http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/res/teach/rec.html
Strategy Name: Word Identification
Step by Steps:

1. Start teaching the lesson-Have students identify the key words

2. Look up and identify the words you do not understand
Strengths:
This is another way to get students engaged in what is being taught. It will also
help them if they are confused of anything right at the beginning.
Example: Look up and write done the definition of the words the student does
not understand.

APA Citation: Adler, C.R. (Ed). 2001, Seven Strategies to Teach Students Text

Comprehension http://www.readingrockets.org/article/3479/
Strategy Name: Semantic Organizers
Step by Steps:
1. Teach the lesson-Make students focus on text structure
2. Make students write a summary of what they have learned so far
3. Students then make a Venn Diagram.
Strengths:
Graphic organizers can help readers focus on concepts and how they are related
to other concepts. Graphic organizers help students read and understand
textbooks and picture books.
Example:

After Reading:
APA Citation: Adler, C.R. (Ed). 2001, Seven Strategies to Teach Students Text
Comprehension http://www.readingrockets.org/article/3479/
Strategy Name: Answering Questions
Step by Steps:
-Teach the lesson-Talk about what your students just learned -Answer questions
about lesson
Strengths:
Give students a purpose for reading. Focus students' attention on what they are
to learn. Help students to think actively as they read. Encourage students to
monitor their comprehension.
Example:

APA Citation: Porter, Karla, M.Ed., Pre-reading Strategies

http://www.studygs.net/preread.htm
Strategy Name: Author Consideration
Step by step
1.Teach the lesson
2. Talk about what was taught
3. Discuss what the author was trying to do.
Strengths: Depending upon the content area, a discussion of the author of the
particular work can be helpful to the understanding of it. What is the author trying
to say? What is his point of view and his reason for writing the particular work?
Example:

APA Citation: Adler, C.R. (Ed). 2001, Seven Strategies to Teach Students Text
Comprehension http://www.readingrockets.org/article/3479/
Strategy Name: Summarizing
Steps:
1. Teach the lesson
2. Have small class discussion
3. Have students make their own worksheet over the lesson
Strengths: Students will determine what is important, connect and main ideas,
remember what they learned.

Examples: make students make their own worksheet over lesson

Vocabulary Strategy

APA Citation: Readence, J., & Bean, T. (1995). Content area literacy: An
integrated approach (5th ed.). Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Pub.

Strategy Name: Verbal and Visual Word Association

Step by Steps:
1. Provide your students notecard
2. Have your students draw a square with four boxes in it
3. Then have your students write their vocabulary word that is being defined
in the top left hand square
4. Write its definition in the bottom left hand square
5. In the top right hand square the students will need to draw a visual
representation for them to remember their vocabulary word by
6. In the bottom right hand square the students will need to give a personal
association or characteristics

Strengths: As stated in Content Area Literacy, this strategy is very effective for
the struggling readers. As a student reads, they may come across a vocabulary
word that they do not understand. They can take that word and use this strategy
to break it down by finding the definition, giving a personal association, and
providing themselves a visual to remember the word by. They can then take this
strategy and apply it to other vocabulary words they dont understand. As time
goes on they will accumulate these vocabulary notecards for them to study and
reference to.

Example:

Word

Visual Representation

Definition

Personal Association or
Characteristic

*Created on my own.

APA Citation: Vocabulary Strategies. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2014, from
http://learningtasks.weebly.com/vocabulary-strategies.html

Strategy Name: Vocabulary Frames

Step by Steps:
1. Provide your students a note card
2. Have the students write the vocabulary word in the middle of the card
3. In the top right and left corner, have the students write a definition based
on their own understanding
4. In the left bottom corner the students will create their own sentence to help
them understand the words meaning
5. In the right bottom corner the students will draw a visual to help them
remember their vocabulary word
6. Be sure to review with them to make sure their definition is correct

Strengths: Using their concept terms, this strategy will allow the student to be
creative and come up with their own personal definition of a vocabulary word
based on their own understanding. They will also be able to create sentences
and visuals to look at and help remember their vocabulary word. As an easy
study tool, the students will build up their vocabulary and have these notecards to
look back on if ever needed.

Example:

*Created on my own in PowerPoint, took a screenshot, and then inserted the screenshot
to the document.

APA Citation: Printables for Students. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2014,
from http://www.iamhomeschooling.com/student-printables/1957-foldableorganizer-templates

Strategy Name: Four-Flap Foldable

Step by Steps:
1. Provide your students a sheet of paper and scissors
2. Have your students take each side of the paper and fold inward to meet in
the middle. Now crease
3. The student should now have 1 flap on each side
4. Then have your student cut each flap in half so that they have 2 flaps on
each side
5. The student should have a total of 4 flaps
6. On the outside of each flap have your student write the vocabulary words
they are studying

7. On the side of each flap they can write the definition of each word they are
studying

Strengths: As a personal favorite, this is always my number one strategy to

study vocabulary words. Its overly easy and allows the students to test
themselves due to the word being on the outside and the definition on the inside.
If you have more words, you can cut more flaps and continue to write more
vocabulary words and their definitions. This is a great strategy for the student to
take home and study for their quizzes and tests.

Strategy Example:

*Free Homeschooling LapBook Templates. (n.d.). Retrieved November 26, 2014, from
http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/lapbook_templates.shtml

ELL Strategy

APA Citation: Adolescent Literacy Instruction. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24,

2014, from http://www.learningpt.org/literacy/adolescent/strategies/story.php

Strategy Name: Story Impressions

Strategy Steps:
1. Create a list of words from a short story that you will read in class
2. Provide this list of words up on the board for the students to see
3. Using the words they were given, the students must create a short story of
their own
4. They then can share their story after reading the real story to compare and
see who was closest

Strengths of Strategy: This strategy allows the student to be creative and use
their prediction skills to see what they think the short story will be about. Not only
is it creative and engaging, but it is also fun for the students to come up with their
own wild ideas. The students are able to interact with each other as well by
sharing their creative stories.
Strategy Example:
*Created on my own.

Words
Given

Story
Created

APA Citation: Knowledge Rating Scale. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2014,
from http://wvde.state.wv.us/strategybank/KnowledgeRatingScale.html

Strategy Name: Knowledge Rating Scale

Step by Steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Assign a topic to your students

Determine what vocabulary words you plan to use from this topic
Give your students the vocabulary words
Have the students rate the vocabulary words on a chart from Know it

well, or No clue
5. If the students know the word, have them give a definition and draw a
visual
6. If the students do not know the word, go over it with them

Strengths: This is a great strategy to use before reading or teaching a topic. This
allows the students to use their prior knowledge on what they already know and
to give the teacher a heads up on what they do not know. As a teacher, this is a
great way to see what topics need to be hit more than others.

Example:
*Created by me.

Vocabulary Word

Know It Well

No Clue

APA Citation: Parkway Schools. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2014, from
http://www.pkwy.k12.mo.us/southsr/parkwaysouth/homepages/assignmentDetail.
cfm?UserID=pdcsouth&TeacherCourseID=60050728-1CC4-EACACE0C8A3648F5F073&AssignmentID=19949

Strategy Name: Magnet Word

Step by Steps:
1. Provide your students a passage to read and a piece of paper
2. When they are done, have them find and highlight a key word that go with
the main idea of the passage
3. Have your students take that key word and make a box in the middle of
your paper. Put the key word inside of the box
4. Draw out 4 lines from each corner and make boxes connected to the end
of those lines
5. In the outside boxes, put in words that support your key word
o EX: If you read a passage about Christmas, then your key word might be
Christmas and your 4 supportive words might be snow, lights, food, or
Santa

Strengths: The magnet word strategy helps the readers remember what they
read by picking out a word that stood out to them the most. They then can follow
up this word with evidence from what they read from the story. This is a great and
easy summary tool for the students to use without having to reread the story over
again.

Example:
*Created on my own.

Supportive
Words

Supportive
Words

Key Word

Supportive
Words

Supportive
Words

Writing Strategy
APA Citation: Readence, J., & Bean, T. (1995). Content area literacy: An
integrated approach (5th ed.). Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Pub.

Strategy Name: Journal

Step by Steps:
1. Provide your students journals at the beginning of the year
2. When they come into class, have a topic written on the board
3. For the first 5-10 minutes of class, have your students write about the
given topic
4. As a teacher, read through journals and provide feedback
Strengths: As a teacher, you wont always get to have a lot of one on one time
with your students. But if you have your students keep a journal you can
communicate with them by providing feedback about their writing. Reading your
students journals will give you an idea on their reading skills and allow you to see

what is going on in their daily lives. BE SURE TO KEEP THIS PRIVATE. This is a
place where your students should feel free to express themselves and talk about
personal matters. You may be able to connect with them and develop an
understanding of what is going on in their lives.

Example:

*Journal - Clip Art Gallery. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2014, from
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/clip/journal.html

APA Citation: Readence, J., & Bean, T. (1995). Content area literacy: An
integrated approach (5th ed.). Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Pub.

Strategy Name: Cubing

Step by Steps:
1. Provide your students a template of a cube
2. On each side of the cube have the students write out
-Describe it

-Compare it
-Associate it
-Analyze it
-Apply it
-Argue for or against it
3. Give your students a topic to explore about
4. Have the students answer each item above about their given topic
o EX from book: If your topic is ice cream you will
-Describe it: grainy
-Compare it: icy
-Associate it: Alaska
-Analyze it: milk, sugar, and ice
-Apply it: cool off
-Argue for or against: fun
5. Once your students have completed their cubes, have them cut out the cube
template
6. The students can fold along the lines and tape the cube together for the
finished product

Strengths: This strategy is a great way to have your students put their critical
thinking to use. If you want, you can put your students into small groups and have
them interact with each other while answering each item on the cube. The
information that the students find can benefit their writing by using all of the new
information they found to write a story or to even give them ideas for a story.

Example:

* Urban Literacy Strategies. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2014, from http://urbanliteracy.blogspot.com/2012/11/cubing.html

APA Citation: Readence, J., & Bean, T. (1995). Content area literacy: An
integrated approach (5th ed.). Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Pub.

Strategy Name: Writing Roulette

Step by Steps:
1. Put your students in to groups of three
2. Have the students each pull out a sheet of paper
3. Assign each student in the group a simple structure such as setting and
characters, a problem, and the solution
4. Setting the timer at about 3 minutes, the students will begin writing their
assigned structure
5. When the time us up the students will pass their paper around and start
again with another students paper writing about their same element
6. In the end, everyone should have all three elements in their ending
product

Strengths: This is a strategy that helps fluency in students writing and allows
them to be creative with their writing. They are free to write whatever they want
without worrying about having a rough draft and using proper grammar. This is
their chance to have fun with each others work and to think on the spot as they
are trying to continue on to someone elses writing.

Example:
*Created by me.

Study Skills/Test Taking Strategy

APA Citation: Classroom Resources. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2014, from
http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/

Strategy Name: Ice Cream Cone

Step by Steps:
1. Print out a picture of an ice cream cone with ice cream to give to your
students
2. On the cone, have them write down their topic
3. On each ice cream layer, have the students write important facts and
details they need to remember

Strengths: This is a great strategy for students to study. By putting the main
topic in the cone, the student is aloud to write important facts that he or she may
need to remember for that one topic. Depending on how many layers of ice
cream there is, the student can write the facts and information in order from most
important to sort of important.

Example:
*Created by me.

Facts or
Details

Facts or
Details

Facts or Details

Topic
APA Citation:

Classroom Resources. (n.d.).

Retrieved November

27, 2014, from

http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/

Strategy Name: Step-By-Step Chart

Step by Steps:
1. Have your students make a chart with two columns and however many
rows they need to learn the steps of something
2. In the first column, the students will write the name of the steps
3. In the second column, the students will write out in detail form each step

Strengths: If you need to learn something that requires steps and order, then this
strategy is perfect. The students are able to write the steps in order, along with
the details next to it. They can take this home to study and look over before a
test. I personally used this step to help me remember the scientific method.

Example:

Topic
Step 1.
Step 2.
Step 3.

Details

Step 4.
*Created by me.

APA Citation: Classroom Resources. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2014, from
http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/

Strategy Name: Time Line

Step by Steps:
1. Have your students draw a straight line on a piece of paper
2. Now have them draw short lines through your long straight line
3. Your students can now add dates and events to the time line

Strengths: This strategy is strong for classes that need to know important dates
and events. The student is able to mark and put in order events that happened
and can then carry this around with them to study for their test.

Example:
*Created by me.