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Oswego Community School District #308

Secondary Reading Comprehension Program

OWLOWL: What is it?: What is it? What are the What are the OWLOWL reading skills? reading skills? How can the How can the OWLOWL reading skills help me reading skills help me

become a better reader?become a better reader? When can I use the When can I use the OWLOWL reading skills? reading skills?

OWLOWL Program Program

Reading is a necessary skill in Reading is a necessary skill in allall content content areas.areas.

The The OWLOWL program is designed to support program is designed to support students in junior high and high school in students in junior high and high school in teaching students how to be more teaching students how to be more effective readers.effective readers.

Knowing the reading comprehension Knowing the reading comprehension skills will help you practice and apply skills will help you practice and apply them.them.

OWLOWL Skills Skills

ConnectingConnecting PredictingPredicting SummarizingSummarizing Sensory Sensory ImagingImaging

Self-Self-QuestioningQuestioning InferringInferring SynthesizingSynthesizing Vocabulary Vocabulary

AcquisitionAcquisition

Skills Outlined by Gretchen Courtney & Associates

OWLOWL: Connecting: Connecting Connecting while reading means to relate text Connecting while reading means to relate text

to one’s own knowledge, experience or other to one’s own knowledge, experience or other texts.texts. Text-to-textText-to-text Text-to-selfText-to-self Text-to-worldText-to-world Abandon connections that do not help you better Abandon connections that do not help you better

understand the textunderstand the text Make connections to theme (fiction) or concept/ Make connections to theme (fiction) or concept/

main idea (non-fiction)main idea (non-fiction)

OWLOWL: Predicting: Predicting Predicting while reading means to use Predicting while reading means to use

text clues and prior knowledge to predict text clues and prior knowledge to predict content and adjust predictions as needed content and adjust predictions as needed to determine key points to determine key points Create predictionsCreate predictions Draw on prior knowledgeDraw on prior knowledge Adjust with additional information Adjust with additional information

Summarize text and make connectionsSummarize text and make connections

OWLOWL: Summarizing: Summarizing Summarizing while reading means to Summarizing while reading means to

determine important events or information determine important events or information and compiling them into a central theme or and compiling them into a central theme or concept.concept. Determine key point from paragraph, sectionDetermine key point from paragraph, section Seek topic sentences (first, last sentence)Seek topic sentences (first, last sentence) Look for repeated words, ideasLook for repeated words, ideas Notice transitionsNotice transitions Put details in categoriesPut details in categories

OWLOWL: Inferring: Inferring Inferring while reading means to use prior Inferring while reading means to use prior

knowledge and text clues to draw knowledge and text clues to draw conclusions about the conclusions about the impliedimplied message. message. Use text clues: pictures, graphs, etc.Use text clues: pictures, graphs, etc. Form logical conclusions about what the author Form logical conclusions about what the author

does does notnot come right out and say in the text come right out and say in the text Make inferences about location, time, action, Make inferences about location, time, action,

objects, characters, culture, emotion, author objects, characters, culture, emotion, author bias, etc.bias, etc.

OWLOWL: Self-questioning: Self-questioning Self-questioning while reading means to Self-questioning while reading means to

generate questions before, during, and after generate questions before, during, and after reading to focus attention on significant reading to focus attention on significant concepts and deepen understanding.concepts and deepen understanding. Ask a variety of questionsAsk a variety of questions Think about responsesThink about responses Develop ability to ask questions that foster Develop ability to ask questions that foster

deeper analysis of textdeeper analysis of text Think about your own thinkingThink about your own thinking

OWLOWL: Imaging: Imaging Imaging while reading means to use Imaging while reading means to use

sensory clues to turn concepts into sensory clues to turn concepts into mental pictures/ associations during and mental pictures/ associations during and after reading.after reading. Use picture images and word imagesUse picture images and word images Seek different types of sensory images Seek different types of sensory images

(visual, touch, sound, scent, taste)(visual, touch, sound, scent, taste) Evaluate images to understand author’s tone Evaluate images to understand author’s tone

and the resulting moodand the resulting mood

OWLOWL: Vocabulary : Vocabulary AcquisitionAcquisition Acquiring vocabulary while reading Acquiring vocabulary while reading

means to pay attention to new or means to pay attention to new or unknown words and determine meaning.unknown words and determine meaning. Prefix, suffix, root word knowledgePrefix, suffix, root word knowledge Use context clues to help make meaningUse context clues to help make meaning Look up key words to assist with Look up key words to assist with

comprehensioncomprehension

OWLOWL Skills Skills

ConnectingConnecting PredictingPredicting SummarizingSummarizing Sensory Sensory ImagingImaging

Self-Self-QuestioningQuestioning InferringInferring SynthesizingSynthesizing Vocabulary Vocabulary

AcquisitionAcquisition

Skills Outlined by Gretchen Courtney & Associates

OWLOWL: What is it?: What is it? What are the What are the OWLOWL reading skills? reading skills? How can the How can the OWLOWL reading skills help me reading skills help me

become a better reader?become a better reader? When can I use the When can I use the OWLOWL reading skills? reading skills?