What is it?

A way of teaching students to read closely and purposefully. A text is revealed to students in instalments. As each is introduced, the students are asked to make predictions, reach conclusions, consider the structures and features as supporting evidence from the text. (Process adapted from the one provided in the source listed below)

What is its purpose?

• To encourage readers to be more aware of the strategies they use to interpret texts
• To help students understand more about the reading process
• To develop prediction skills
• To stimulate thinking and develop hypotheses about texts which aid interpretation and comprehension
• To increase understanding of the purposes and effects of the structures and features of particular texts
• To increase curiosity about particular texts and text types
• Encourage students to listen to the opinions of others and modify their own in the light of additional information

How do I do it?

• Predict using the title. Illustrations may also be used if desired.
• Read, view or listen to the first instalment.
• Ask students to discuss - what they know - how they know - what they think will happen next
• Read, view or listen to the next instalment. Ask the same types of questions - confirming and disproving predictions.
• Continue with this sequence asking students to explain and justify predictions.

How can I adapt it?

• Have students work in groups and present their findings after each instalment.
• Have students write down their predictions

How can it be used to evaluate students' language learning?

Students' work might demonstrate their ability to:

• use the context as an aid to prediction
• draw conclusions and predict outcomes
• locate information
• identify supporting information
• respond to texts through feelings or ideas
• explore issues or ideas beyond the text
• discuss the effects of linguistic structures and features

Where can I find out more?

Jennings, C and Shepherd, J (1998) Literacy and the Key Learning Areas: Successful Classroom Strategies, Eleanor Curtain Publishing.
Murdoch, K (1998) Classroom Connections : Strategies for Integrated Learning, Eleanor Curtain Publishing.