Author: Deb Bullock | Published on 1 October 2022
Question:When I teach reading, when should I do activities?
Answer: You can do activities before, during and after the reading.
Using different activities before, during and after reading can help your learners read more successfully. Below are some examples that you can try:
1. Before reading – to create interest and prepare learners
- Discuss what learners already know about the topic.
- Learners use the title, pictures or key words to predict the content of the text.
- Use pictures to elicit and introduce vocabulary.
- Learners write questions about what they want to know, or what they think they will learn.
2. During reading – to check understanding
- suggest / choose a title.
- write questions for another group to answer.
- complete a diagram, map, table, etc.
- order pictures, paragraphs, a list of events, etc.
Learners work in teams and do a reading race. ⇨ Activity Bag: Reading race
When reading stories, pause and ask learners to predict what will happen next.
3. After reading – to extend, and respond to the text
Learners could:
- record new vocabulary in their notebooks.
- create and act out dialogues.
- write a letter to a character in a story or a diary entry.
- discuss and compare their own ideas/experiences with those in the text.
- create a similar text type, e.g. advertisement on a different topic.
Which activities will you try with your learners?