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What
is Probable Passage?
Probable
passage is a strategy to improve comprehension, develop an awareness
of story structure, and increase vocabulary development.
What
is its purpose?
Using
this strategy as a prereading activity not only introduces readers
to vocabulary they will encounter, it also provides a powerful incentive
to read and discover that the story follows the outline that has
been suggested. When the strategy is introduced for the first time,
it is important that the teacher model each stage, always thinking
aloud.
How
can I do it?
- Choose
eight to fourteen words or phrases from the story and write them
on an overhead or the chalkboard. The words should include ones
that reflect the characters, setting, problem, and outcomes, as
well as some unknown words that are critical to the theme of the
selection.
- Divide
class into groups of three and present with a Probable Passage
worksheet that includes boxes that are labeled "Characters,"
"Setting," "Problem," "Outcomes,"
and "Unknown Words." In addition to these boxes, there
are lines designated for writing a gist or prediction statement.
Finally, there is a "Question" section that encourages
the group to write down what they hope to find out during the
reading.
3. Working as a group, the students discuss all of the words and
phrases and decide into which box to put each one. As many of
these as possible should be used, but it is not necessary to place
all of them in a box. It is important to remind the class that
the "Unknown Words" are ones that the meanings are not
known, not just those that the group can't decide into which box
they should go.
4. The gist or prediction statement is written, as well as the
questions.
5. When the worksheets are finished, each group shares the results
and reads their gist statement aloud.
6. Brainstorm as a class what they want to discover when reading
the selection.
7. Read the text.
8. After reading, compare the Probable Passages and discuss into
what categories the author would have placed the words. Also,
students can reflect how using this strategy helped in understanding
the text
Teacher
Resources
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