Unit 2: How to Use This Book – Reading Strategies

Introduction to Reading Practices

To be successful readers, second graders need to practice specific skills every day. Reading involves more than just saying the words; it means understanding the ideas and connecting them to what you already know. The reading process includes comprehension (understanding the text) and fluency (reading accurately and with expression). When we read, we use strategies like making predictions, asking questions, and summarizing to help us understand. We also study word analysisskills, such as phonics and decoding, to read new words. Regular practice helpsstudents become independent readers who can understand complex texts.

Key Reading Standards

This unit focuses on building a foundation for daily reading. We look at three main areas: Reading Anchor Standard 1 involves reading closely to determine what the text says explicitly and making logical inferences. Reading Anchor Standard 4 focuses on interpreting words and phrases, including technical and figurative meanings. Finally, Foundational Skills involve knowing and applying phonics and word analysis skills to decode words.

Exercise 1: Matching Strategies

Match the reading strategy on the left with its correct definition on the right.

1. Predict ________ A. To tell the main points of a text in your own words.
2. Infer ________ B. To make a logical guess about what will happen next.
3. Summarize ________ C. To read clearly, accurately, and with expression.
4. Decode ________ D. Touse clues to understand something not directly stated.
5.Fluency ________ E. To break a word into sounds to read it.
6. Visualize ________ F. To create a picture in your mind while reading.
7. Monitor ________ G. To check if you understand what you are reading.
8. Connect ________ H. To relate the text to your own life or other books.

Exercise 2: Vocabulary Concepts

Choose the correct term for each description related to reading skills.

1. A word that has more than one meaning. (A. Multiple-meaning word B. Antonym)
2. The central thought or message of a text. (A.Detail B. Main Idea)
3. A word part added to the beginning of a root word. (A. Suffix B. Prefix)
4. Words that have the same meaning. (A. Synonyms B. Homophones)
5. A type of text that tells a story. (A. Fiction B. Nonfiction)
6. Words that sound the same but have different spellings/meanings. (A. Homophones B. Verbs)
7. The time and place where a story happens. (A. Plot B. Setting)
8. The people or animals ina story. (A. Characters B. Authors)

Exercise 3: Word Analysis – Phonics

Identify the vowel sound in the following words found in reading instructions.

1. Does the word page have a long or short ‘a’? ___________
2. Does the word test have along or short ‘e’? ___________
3. Does the word read have a long or short ‘e’? ___________
4. Does the word book have a long or short ‘o’ sound? ___________
5. Does the word write have a long or short ‘i’? ___________
6. Does the word use have a long or short ‘u’? ___________
7. Does the word text have a long or short ‘e’? ___________
8. Does the word day have a long or short ‘a’? ___________

Exercise 4: Identifying Text Features

Determine if the following features are found inFiction (F) or Nonfiction (N) texts.

1. Table of Contents: ________
2. Talking animals: ________
3. Diagrams and labels: ________
4. Plot and conflict: ________
5. Glossary: ________
6. Made-up setting: ________
7. Photographs of real events: ________
8. Index: ________

Exercise 5: Sentence Comprehension

Read the sentences about reading habits and circle YES if it is a good habitor NO if it is not.

1. I look at the title before I start reading. (YES / NO)
2. I skip words I don’t know and never look them up. (YES / NO)
3. I ask myself questions as I read. (YES / NO)
4. I read as fast as I can, even if I make mistakes. (YES / NO)
5. I reread a sentence if it doesn’t make sense. (YES / NO)
6. I look at the pictures to help me understand the story. (YES / NO)
7. I stop reading as soon as I get bored. (YES / NO)
8. I try to predict what will happen next. (YES / NO)

Exercise 6: Word Study – Prefixes and Suffixes

Identify the base word in the following reading-related terms.

1. Reread (Base word: ___________)
2. Teacher (Base word: ___________)
3. Quickly (Base word: ___________)
4. Retell (Base word: ___________)
5. Useful (Base word: ___________)
6. Meaningful (Base word: ___________)
7. Unclear (Base word: ___________)
8. Decoding (Base word: ___________)