Active reading techniques

(use with summer reading books)

Use these symbols to mark important information as you
read stories:
characters
new character or important character description
setting
information about setting or changes in setting, related to
a place
setting
information about setting or changes in setting, related to
a time (year, season, month, time of day, etc.)
vocabulary
put a box around unfamiliar words
plot development
use a star to mark important events in the story
Im confused!
Use a question mark to identify parts of the story that are
confusing to you
Margin notes:
Your margin notes will help you create a summary of events
throughout the book. You can write them at the top or bottom of
the page, on the outside margin, or on a post-it note (write the page
or chapter number on the post-it). You dont have to use complete
sentences, but should be specific enough that someone else could
read your note and follow a basic story line (who, what, where,
when).
**This information will really help you when its time to study for a test,
write a paper, or do a project on the book.**
Karen Parnell, M.S., CCC-SLP