Predicting is a strategy in which readers think about what they are going to read based on clues from the reading. It is an ongoing process that actively engages the reader in two ways: The reader’s mind is a jump ahead, trying to figure out what is coming next (making new predictions), while at the same time the reader is revising and refining the old predictions.
Why do we Predict?
- Gets our mind ready to read
- Gives us a purpose to read
When do we Predict?
- Before and during reading
How do we Predict?
- Think about title, look at cover and pictures
- Think about the text structure
- Use what you know
- Ask questions ~ I wonder. . ., Who is. . ., Why is. . . .
- Change your predictions as you read
- Can be proven or not
Activities for making predictions:
Students make predictions all the time though they may not realize it. They predict what there friends will say when they score a winning point. They predict what’s for dinner when they come home to warm smells from the kitchen. People are able to make predictions based on prior knowledge, or information they already have. Once you teach your students the predicting strategy, they’ll be able to do the same with their reading.
Here are a few activities you can use in your classroom to help students become proficient at making predictions.
Use book or movie titles. Read students the titles of books they’ve never read before and ask them to make a prediction what the book is about. Then read the back cover or inside flap of the book out loud to see how close they came to the mark. You can do the same with movie titles and then read aloud a synopsis of the movie review.
Bring an unusual object to class. Show students the object and have them predict what it could be used for and how it works. While showing the object, point out structures or components that could be clues as to what it is without actually explaining how it works.
Read a section of text and then have students predict what is going to happen next. Have them write their predictions on sentence strips and place each prediction on the wall. Revisit the predictions once the action has been revealed in the story.
Explain to students that making predictions is like being a detective. They can find clues in the book title, the illustration on the front cover, as well as pictures inside the book to predict what the story is about. Students may be inclined to take the easy way out and say the book is about a princess or a dog but that’s not good enough. Have them also predict what a character will do or an important event that may take place.
When student know how to make predictions and use this skill prior to reading, they not only have a reason to read, but this knowledge will improve their comprehension. By activating prior knowledge they can get at the deeper meanings, learn to read between the lines, and take the first steps for developing a love for literature.
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