Textbook Literacy

Set a purpose for reading
Turn summary or main idea statements into questions
Use review questions at the end of the section to focus your reading

Explore reading aids
Explore reading aids to set a purpose for reading
Record key terms or names of people

Preview visuals
Analyze visuals; seek clarity and understanding

Pause and connect visuals to titles and subtitles
You might ask, “How does this visual connect to this section?” or “How might this visual clarify, extend, or illustrate the information on this page?”

Record and define terms and identify essential people, places, and dates
Utilize Cornell notes or a vocabulary journal.

Draw ideas or recreate visuals that are presented in the text

Discuss ideas presented in the text
Discuss ideas as you read them
Engage in verbal summaries
Connect ideas presented in one section to ideas in a previous section

Summarize sections of the text
Clarify or extend you understanding through purposeful summary writing
Summarize ideas through visual representations

Organize or categorize ideas within the text
Use graphic organizers like a "Wh" charts or timelines to comprehend difficult material.
Use cause and effect as well as problem and solution charts.
Use charts to track processes or cycles.
Develop classification charts.