5 November, 2014
She’s been reading her history book for half an hour. But when she closes the book, she says, “I can’t keep my mind from wandering. How will I ever remember this stuff?”
Here’s a way to help your teen focus when she reads. It will help her pay attention and make connections between the things she is learning and the things she already knows.
Start by dividing a sheet of paper into four quarters. In the top left quarter, have her write a big exclamation point. This stands for “I didn’t know that!”
In the top right, have her write a big question mark. This is the place where she can write any questions she thinks of as she’s reading.
In the bottom left , put big plus and minus signs (+/-). This stands for “I agree with … ” or “I disagree with … .”
In the last quarter, draw a cloud. This stands for “I wonder.” Have her keep the paper handy as she reads her assignments. If she thinks of a question, she can jot it down in the question box. If after reading she is left wondering about something, she should make a note in the cloud box.
The bottom half of the paper will help her prepare for her next class. These are questions she can ask the teacher. With this method, she’ll be more involved as she reads and be ready for her next class.
Source: Carol Koechlin and Sandi Zwaan, Q Tasks: How to Empower Students to Ask Questions, (Pembroke Publishers).
brought to you by
Hopkinton Middle School
