Students should be able to use their own words to explain the meaning of the reading selection. When students use their own words to explain what the author is trying to convey, they exhibit a greater comprehension of the material than when they parrot the writer's words. Have the students predict what will happen next in the story and why. Encourage students to relate prior knowledge to the reading topic, such as by describing a time they were in a similar situation as the character in the story or factual information they know about the topic.
As your students read, have them fill out a story map including the main characters, setting, problem, two or three key events, solution and ending. For each reading selection, have the students write answers to the questions, “Who? What? Why? When? Where? and How?" Ask your students to write a quote from the reading selection and use descriptive words to explain what they visualized as they read that portion of the passage. Have students use a system of light pencil marks to categorize information within the reading selection, such as words to look up in a dictionary, things with which they agree or disagree, what they want to remember and any questions they have.
Students can make a storyboard showing the flow of events in the reading selection to help them comprehend the relationship between parts of the story and make inferences. This can be as simple as three panels each showing the beginning, middle or end of the story including a brief explanation of each illustration. They could also act out a scene from the story or teach the rest of the class about the information contained in an article.
Student can write questions before they begin reading, based on what they think the passage will say. As they read, have them write the answers to their questions and also write new ones, such as why a character feels the way she does or if an event in a story could really happen. Reading nonfiction, students can ask factual questions about a topic and write the information from the selection that answers their questions or write more questions that the reading did not address. Have students actively engage with the text and comprehension process using questions and answers created by the student himself.