Post-It+Notes

Ashley Curran During Reading Strategies Post It Notes

When independent readers begin their reading process, they are actively reading without even thinking about it. These readers are asking questions, predicting, comprehending, and rereading material that does not make sense to them. The ability to actively read and have an internal conversation [while reading] is what largely separates independent readers from their counterpart, dependent readers. Dependent readers (typically) struggle with the idea of reading being an active process. Within a classroom, dependent readers are sometimes easy to spot, as they will be vocal about how they do not want to read, or they do not like reading. Most of these students do not want to read because they struggle and are unsure how to read actively. Other dependent readers are not as easy to spot, they will sit there, eyes glances through the words on the page and then slowly turn the page when they believe it is the appropriate time to do so. These dependent readers look like they are reading, however they are just looking and not reading, comprehending or understanding.

As an educator is important that independent as well as dependent readers learn to actively read. For some students this process of actively reading is not innate, therefore they need to be taught how to do so. There are dozens of during reading strategies that will enhance a students’ reading ability. However, one strategy in particular enable students to work on their reading comprehension in and out of the classroom. This particular strategy uses Post It Notes. One of the best aspects of the Post It Note (reading) strategy is that everyone, of any reading level can use it. Students who are struggling readers can use this strategy to keep them organized, and students who are strong readers can use this strategy to get them thinking further into the text.

In order to use the Post It Note strategy many students will need to learn how to use the Post-Its effectively. When teaching students how to use their post it notes to help them read, it should be clarified that this strategy can be used for any book. I believe a great way to teach this strategy is by combining it with the Say Something strategy. When modeling the Post-It note strategy, you should (as a teacher) read a page or two out loud to your students. As you read you should pause and ask questions out loud or make statements out loud. This will enable students to understand your thinking process. As you create statements out loud, show students what exactly you are writing on your Post It note and why you are doing so. It is important for students to understand why they should be doing something, otherwise it seems useless to them. Continue to read through the chapter repeating this process a few times. Eventually as you read, pause and ask your students what they think should be “noted” within the section just read. Continue this process, scaffolding, along the way ensuring that your students are developing the skills along the way.

Additional information can be found at: Post-Its forTeachers- All Activities (www.teachers.post-it.com) Focus Lesson Planning Sheet (www.wrsdcurriculum.net)