Reading-to-Learn Activities
Note Taking
Note taking enhances learning by activating your kinesthetic and visual senses. Use the following activity to practice taking notes.
Your Turn Choose a location in your school, whether in a classroom, the library, the cafeteria, or even the hallway. Take notes about what you observe, writing down the key features of the scene before you. Try to find at least three things that you have not noticed in this location before. Reflect on how note taking affects your observational skills.
Annotating
Annotating a text helps you to dig through it and focus on its specific features. The following activity asks you to use annotation.
Your Turn Select and photocopy a text from one of your classes. Read through the material, annotating as you go. Then reread the text, adding more notes in the margins. Consider your annotations. How has marking the text helped you think more deeply about it?
Vocabulary for Reading
Knowing the specific vocabulary related to a type of writing can help you to understand and discuss an example text. By studying the vocabulary of nonfiction, fiction, or poetry, for example, you can better comprehend the features and intent of what you are reading.
Your Turn Turn to pages 148-149, 152-153, and 156-157. From each section, choose three words that are unfamiliar to you. Write down the words and their definitions. Then look for examples of these features in current reading assignments. Copy the examples you find and review the terms. Finally, make a point of using the terms as you discuss your reading.
Comparing the Readings
As you have experienced, different types of texts require different reading approaches. The activity below reviews recommendations for approaching different texts.
You Turn Turn to pages 146, 150, and 154. Compare and contrast the tips for before, during, and after each type of reading. How are reading nonfiction, fiction, and poetry similar? How are they different?