good readers

The California Reading Association suggests 26 behaviors that describe fluent, constructive strategic reading for all ages.

Anticipate Meaning	Become Lifelong Readers	Choose Their Own Reading Material
Good readers use their prior experiences and information from text to make predictions and speculations	By being in the continued presences of reading and writing with parents, teachers and schoolmates, good readers develop lifelong literacy habits	From the very early stages, good readers select a variety of books and literature.


Do Not Read Every Word or Letter	Elaborate on Important Parts of the Text	Focus on Fluency by Reading
The more the mind works, the less hard the eyes have to work as good readers focus on the larger more meaningful chunks of text.	Good readers generate elaborations or embellishments during reading. This instills grater comprehension, recall and use of the material read.	One of the best ways good readers become fluent is by wide reading.


Get Books	Have a Purpose for Reading	Image when They Read
Good readers go where the books are. They use the library, brose in bookstore, borrow books from friends and give then as gifts.	Good readers know that reading can serve many purposes. Reading can be informational, enjoyable, enriching and a useful tool in solving problems.	To facilitate comprehension, good readers make mental pictures as they read.


Just Skim Sometimes and Read Slowly Other Times	Know About Their Own Mental Skills	Listen & Enjoy Stories & Books Being Read Aloud
Good readers shift speeds depending on their purpose and the type of book they are reading.	Good readers continuously appraise and self monitor their comprehension as they are reading. They are aware of what they know, what they want to know and how to do that.	An important factor in helping build the background for becoming a good reader is reading aloud to students of all ages.


Make Personal Connections	Negotiate Meaning by Integrating a Number of Cues or Sources of Information	Often Self Correct
Good readers make links and applications between literature and their own lives.	Good readers use and cross-check four types of cues : their knowledge of the world; oral language (what sounds right); work meanings; visual information in the text (letter/sound association).	Good readers use monitoring and problem solving strategies such as skipping unknown words, rereading, reading ahead and using outside sources.


Paraphrase Periodically	Question	Respond to Literature
While reading, good readers put their own words into the gist of what they've been reading.	Good readers ask questions and then read to seek the answers.	Good readers gradually learn to make internal responses and personal reflections to literature by making external responses (reconstructions, retelling and drawings).


Share with Others	Take Time to Read, Read, Read	Use Prior Knowledge
God readers are always joining together to discuss and share what they are reading with others. Book habits are acquired naturally as the result of these interactions.	Logging lots of reading mileage, good readers take advantage of many opportunities in and out of class to read.	Good readers use their background, knowledge, experiences and knowledge of the world to make inferences, think critically, relate new discoveries to old knowledge and construct meaning from the text.


Validate Predictions	Write	Expect Reading to Make Sense
Good readers verify their predictions as they read. Comprehension equals confirmed predictions.	Engaging in writing as it relates to reading is a good way for readers to enhance both reading and writing abilities.	As a priority, good readers have a meaning orientation to print, always seeking to make sense when they read.


Yearn to Read	Zero in on Learning Strategies When They Need Them	The Best Way to Improve Your Child's Reading
Always having a book and choosing to engage in reading during leisure time is a hallmark of a good reader.	As they need strategies and skills to communicate with an author, good readers learn them in the context of reading.	Read TO them and read and WITH them. It is never to late to start.