THE SQR4 METHOD OF READING / STUDYING

1. Survey: Before you read, survey the title, headings, and subheadings, captions, pictures, charts, graphs or maps. Review questions or teacher made study guides Try to get an overview of what lies ahead 2. Question: Generate some questions about the topic. Hypothesize the kind of question that the teacher might ask. Read questions at the end of chapter/article or after each subheading Ask yourself, "What did my teacher say about this subject when it was assigned?" Ask yourself, "What do I already know about this subject?" eg. The heading "Stages of Sleep" might lead you to ask: " Is there more than one stage of sleep? What are they and how do the differ?" Asking Questions helps you read with a purpose. 3. Read: Read slowly for details as you cover all the notebook/textbook/article material and try to answer the questions which you have posted. 4. Record: Write down key ideas generated by the questions that you have generated. Writing as you read increases retention by as much as 50%. Underline important points you have read (the next two will help you study better for exams) 5. Recite: Recall main ideas aloud. Hear the answers as well as read them. Write the ideas down in your own words 6. Review: Revisit key ideas and concepts several times.

Paired Reading/Read & Explain Pairs:

This activity helps to read and understand articles/data more effectively as pairs than as individuals. o Read headings to gain an overview. o Partners each read the 1st section under a heading silently. o One partner summarizes, in own words, what they read. o The other partner listens for accuracy, adds additional information, relates information to previous knowledge. o Partners read next section and switch roles for #3 and #4 above. o Continue this pattern until the article or data is completed.