Description
Struggling to get students to start reading and still make sense of what the text is really saying? Looking for a quick, repeatable routine that helps every learner approach reading with purpose and confidence? Reading comprehension begins before students ever look at the text, and schema theory shows that readers understand new information by connecting it to what they already know. Insufficient prior knowledge is one of the greatest barriers to comprehension, which means the right before-reading moves can change everything. In this course, Mary Lee shares practical, high-impact before-reading strategies that activate schema, build background knowledge, and spark curiosity so students enter a text ready to make meaning, stay engaged, and understand more the first time. You will leave with classroom-ready routines you can use immediately with any text, in any subject, to boost reading comprehension before reading even begins.
Objectives
Identify one before-reading routine that activates students’ prior knowledge.
Explain why background knowledge is critical to reading comprehension.
Use a before-reading strategy such as an anticipation guide or text preview in a modeled task.
Examine how schema gaps affect comprehension and engagement.
Justify which before-reading routine best supports your grade level or subject.
Design a before-reading activity that prepares students for an upcoming text or lesson.
