DURING READING

Do I understand?
Is this what I expected?
What is different? What is the same?

BEFORE READING

What are the important details?
Which sections tell me that?
What new information did I learn?
Do I need to go back and reread?

1. Models the use of the "Self-Questioning" technique, referring to the chart in Box 26, and using a passage, Who Calls an Election, p. 15, from Canada Votes: How We Elect Our Government by Linda Granfield, published by Kids Can Press, 1990, although other selections may be used. The following "think-aloud" serves as an example.
   
   Think-Aloud:
   
   BEFORE READING
   
   Purpose: (Referring to the Chart)
   
   I want to find out who calls an election, and why an election would be called.
   
   What Do I Know? (Referring to the Chart)
   
   I know that the prime minister sometimes calls elections. I don't know if the prime minister is the only person to do that.
   
   I know that an election must be called every few years - every four or five. I'm not sure whether it is four or five years.
   
   I know electrons sometimes happen after a government has been in for two or three years.
   
   I know that the prime minister doesn't want to call an election if he knows his party won't win. Why call an election if you think you are going to lose?
   
   I Need To Find Out (Referring to the Chart)
   
   Who calls the election?
   How often?
   When elections are called?
   
   Now I'm Ready To Read
   
   DURING READING:
   
   WHILE I read...
   
   I'll ask myself- (Reads and does this)
   Am I understanding - Does this make sense?
   Is this what I expected?
   What is different? What is the same?
   
   AFTER READING:
   
   AFTER I read...
   
   I ask: (At the same time as the instructor answers the questions orally, she creates a structured overview of the information - Box 27.)
   
   What are the important points?
   Which sections tell me that?
   What new information did I learn?
   Do I need to go back and reread? Do I understand?