Reading

Use reading journals to improve retention & comprehension

Do your students ever say that they read an assigned chapter but couldn’t remember what they read after they closed the book? One solution is “writing to learn.” When students write about what they have read, they will improve in both comprehension and retention. Here’s how it works.

Ask each student to:

1. Enter the title of the assignment at the top of a sheet of paper.
2. Divide the paper in half by drawing a vertical line.
3. Read the assigned text.
4. Fill in the left side of the paper with information from the reading such as:
   • The main idea.
   • Significant details.
   • Key vocabulary words.
   • Important quotes.
5. Fill in the right side with:
   • Questions.
   • Comments about how the reading relates to class discussions.
   • Comments about information on the topic from other sources.

Before a general class discussion, have pairs of students compare their entries. Did they both find the same key points? Did they have the same questions? Did other readings or discussions add to their understanding of the material?

Reprinted with permission from the March 2007 issue of Better Teaching® (Secondary Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2007 The Teacher Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: “Writing Across the Curriculum to Increase Student Learning in Middle and High School” (Educational Research Service, www.ers.org, 1-800-791-9308).