How Do I Know I’m Stuck?
Now That I Know I’m Stuck, What Do I Do?
From I Read It But I Don’t Get It by Tovani
- The voice inside the reader’s head isn’t interacting with the text. One voice should be saying the words on the page, while the other is having a conversation with the text.
- The video camera inside the reader’s head shuts off. Good readers visualize the events as they are happening in the story.
- The reader’s mind begins to wander. Good readers realize that when they start thinking about something other than the text, they need to go back and reconnect.
- The reader can’t remember what has been read. Good readers can retell what has happened.
- Clarifying questions asked by the reader are not answered. Good readers ask questions and answer them to help them understand the text.
- The reader reencounters a character and has no recollection when that character was introduced. Good readers keep track of characters and know who they are.
Now That I Know I’m Stuck, What Do I Do?
- Make a connection between the text and your life, your knowledge of the world or another text.
- Make a prediction.
- Stop and think about what you have already read.
- Ask yourself a question and try to answer it.
- Reflect in writing on what you have read.
- Make a picture in your head
- Retell what you have read.
- Reread.
- Adjust your reading rate: slow down or speed up
From I Read It But I Don’t Get It by Tovani