Unveiling the 3 Key Stages of a Reading Comprehension Lesson Plan: Pre-reading, While Reading, and Post-reading

Introduction:

Embarking on a comprehensive exploration of reading comprehension, this guide unveils a structured lesson plan that encompasses three pivotal stages: pre-reading, while reading, and post-reading.

Each stage serves a distinct purpose, cultivating students’ comprehension skills and nurturing a profound understanding of the text.

Let’s delve into the intricacies of these stages, discover effective activities for each, and unlock a holistic approach to reading comprehension that extends beyond decoding words, fostering critical thinking and a deep appreciation for the written word.

Reading Comprehension Lesson Plan Stages And Activities

In the following section, we will cover crucial reading comprehension lesson plan stages and activities.

Let’s start by exploring the structure of a reading comprehension lesson plan, engaging students through three fundamental stages: pre-reading, while-reading, and post-reading.

Reading Comprehension Lesson Plan Structure:

A well-structured reading comprehension lesson plan typically comprises three essential stages: pre-reading, while reading, and post-reading. Each stage serves a distinct purpose in developing students’ comprehension skills and fostering a deeper understanding of the text.

1. Pre-reading Stage:

Definition:

The pre-reading stage is the initial phase of the lesson, designed to prepare students for the upcoming text. It involves activities that activate prior knowledge, build interest, and introduce key concepts or vocabulary.

The pre-reading stage is also an opportune time to introduce and explicitly teach certain reading strategies. For example, you might teach students how to activate prior knowledge, make predictions based on the title or headings, and generate questions about the upcoming text. These strategies prepare students for what they are about to read and set the stage for active engagement with the material.

Importance:

Pre-reading activities help create a mental framework for students, providing context and making the text more accessible. By tapping into prior knowledge and generating interest, this stage primes students for better comprehension during the reading phase. 

2. While Reading Stage:

Definition:

The while-reading stage is the core of the lesson, focusing on the actual reading of the text. Students engage directly with the material, applying various strategies such as close reading, annotation, and note-taking.

The while-reading stage is where students actively apply the reading strategies they’ve learned. Explicitly teach and encourage the use of strategies such as skimming to get an overview of the text, scanning to locate specific information, and making connections between the text and their prior knowledge. Guided practice during this stage reinforces the application of these strategies in real-time, enhancing comprehension and fostering independent reading skills.

Importance:

This stage is crucial for developing active reading skills. Students learn to extract meaning, identify main ideas, and comprehend details. Teachers can guide students through the text, encouraging them to ask questions, make predictions, and connect new information with their existing knowledge.

3. Post-reading Stage:

Definition:

The post-reading stage occurs after students have completed the reading. It involves activities that reinforce understanding, encourage reflection, and facilitate the synthesis of information.

Importance:

Post-reading activities help solidify comprehension by allowing students to reflect on what they’ve learned, discuss key points, and relate the text to their own experiences. This stage promotes critical thinking and the ability to analyze and evaluate the content.

Incorporating these three stages into a comprehensive lesson plan creates a holistic approach to reading comprehension. Teachers can tailor activities to the needs of their students, ensuring a well-rounded learning experience that goes beyond mere decoding of words to fostering deep understanding and critical thinking skills.

In the upcoming sections, we will delve into reading comprehension lesson plan stages and activities, detailing the activities specific to each reading stage and providing insights on their effective implementation.

Pre-reading Stage

The pre-reading stage serves as the foundational phase of a reading comprehension lesson, laying the groundwork for students to approach a text with curiosity, context, and purpose.

During this stage, educators employ a range of activities designed to activate prior knowledge, build interest, and introduce key concepts. This intentional preparation enhances students’ readiness for the upcoming reading, making the text more accessible and fostering a deeper understanding. 

In this section, we will explore the significance of the pre-reading stage and delve into specific activities that educators can employ to effectively engage students before they embark on their reading journey.

What Are Pre-reading Activities

Pre-reading activities are purposeful exercises or tasks strategically conducted before delving into a text. The primary aim is to activate existing knowledge, create a sense of anticipation, and provide a cognitive framework for readers to connect with the upcoming content. 

These activities are crafted to engage students actively, setting the stage for a more meaningful and informed reading experience. 

By tapping into prior knowledge and generating interest, pre-reading activities serve as essential building blocks for enhancing comprehension and overall text engagement.

Examples of pre-reading activities

1. Quote Discussions:

• Activity: Provide students with quotes related to the topic of the text.
• Implementation: Before reading, encourage students to discuss the quotes and share their interpretations. Ask questions like: What do you think this quote means? How might it relate to the upcoming text? This can stimulate curiosity and activate prior knowledge.

2. List of Random Words:

• Activity: Present students with a list of words, some related to the text, some unrelated.
• Implementation: In pairs or small groups, have students cross out the words they think are not likely to appear in the text. This activity encourages students to make predictions about the text’s content and focus on relevant vocabulary.

3. Pre-teaching Key Vocabulary:

• Activity: The teacher introduces and explains 3-5 words likely to pose challenges during reading.
• Implementation: After introducing the words, ask students to create sentences or short paragraphs using these words. This reinforces understanding and provides practical context for the vocabulary.

4. Matching Words with Definitions:

• Activity: Compile a short list of challenging words (4-6 words) extracted from the text along with their definitions, and then mix them up for a matching activity.
• Implementation: Turn this into a fun game by timing the activity and making it a race. You can also use flashcards or digital quizzes for interactive learning.

5. KWL Chart:

• Activity: A KWL Chart is structured with three columns: “What I know” about the topic, “What I want to know,” and “What I learned” from the text. Students complete the first two columns (What I Know and What I Want to Know) of a KWL chart.
• Implementation: Encourage students to share their “What I Want to Know” questions with peers. Foster group discussions where students share their existing knowledge and curiosity about the topic, promoting collaborative learning

6. Picture(s) Description:

• Activity: Students work together to describe a picture related to the text’s topic.
• Implementation: Ask students to describe the picture and predict how it might relate to the upcoming text. After reading, have them revisit their predictions and discuss any differences.

7. Mind Mapping or Brainstorming:

• Activity: The teacher writes the text’s topic and circles it; students brainstorm ideas related to the text.
• Implementation: Use digital mind-mapping tools or interactive whiteboards for engaging brainstorming sessions. Encourage students to categorize their ideas, providing a visual representation of their pre-reading thoughts.

8. Anticipation Guide:

• Activity: Provide a list of statements related to the text’s themes. Students agree or disagree with each statement.
• Implementation: After reading, revisit the anticipation guide and discuss how their opinions have changed. Encourage students to provide evidence from the text to support their views.

9. Role Play:

• Activity: Assign students different roles or characters from the upcoming text and have them act out a scene or conversation.
• Implementation: This activity helps students understand character perspectives before they start reading the text. It can be followed by a discussion of character motivations and the impact of their actions on the story.

10. Song or Music Analysis:

• Activity: Play a song related to the text’s themes and discuss how the lyrics or mood relate to the upcoming text.
• Implementation: After the song, ask students to make predictions about the text based on the song’s content. It’s an excellent way to evoke emotions and interest.

11. Prediction in Pictures:

• Activity: Show a series of images related to the text’s topic and ask students to predict what the text might be about based on these images.
• Implementation: Encourage students to make connections between the images and their prior knowledge. Discuss how these visuals may foreshadow elements in the text.

12. News Headlines:

• Activity: Share news headlines or snippets related to the text and ask students to predict the content of the text based on these headlines.
• Implementation: Encourage students to think critically about the connections between real-world events and the text’s subject matter. This can foster critical thinking.

13. Historical Context:

• Activity: Provide an overview of the historical or cultural context of the text.
• Implementation: This is especially relevant for historical texts or those from different time periods. Help students grasp the setting, background, and cultural nuances before reading the text.

14. Concept Web:

• Activity: Students create a concept web or diagram with the main theme of the upcoming text in the center, branching out to related subtopics.
• Implementation: This visual aid serves as a valuable tool for students to structure their thoughts and gain a comprehensive overview of the topic, facilitating the activation of their prior knowledge. Foster discussion among students, encouraging them to explore and articulate the relationships between various concepts within the web.

15. Debate or Discussion Starter:

• Activity: Present a thought-provoking statement or question related to the text’s theme for a pre-reading debate or discussion.
• Implementation: This activity promotes critical thinking and encourages students to reflect on the text’s potential arguments and perspectives. It’s an excellent way to engage students in lively discussions

While-reading stage

As students transition from the preparatory phase of pre-reading to the heart of the reading process, the while-reading stage takes center stage. This crucial phase involves the active exploration of the text itself.

It is during this stage that readers apply specific strategies to comprehend, analyze, and extract meaning from the material. The while-reading stage is a dynamic period of interaction with the text, where students hone skills such as close reading, annotation, and note-taking.

In this section, we will delve into the significance of the while-reading stage and explore how educators can guide students to navigate and derive meaning from the text in real-time.

What are While-reading Activities?

While-reading activities encompass purposeful exercises or tasks seamlessly integrated into the act of reading a text.

These activities are strategically designed to elevate comprehension, foster critical thinking, and enhance overall engagement by actively involving readers in the reading process. Unlike pre-reading activities that set the stage, while-reading activities unfold dynamically, guiding readers as they navigate the text.

These exercises encourage students to apply specific strategies, such as close reading, annotation, and reflective note-taking, empowering them to extract meaning and delve deeper into the content.

The goal is to make the reading experience an interactive and enriching journey, where students actively participate in unraveling the layers of information within the text.

Examples of While Reading Activities

1. Choosing the Best Title:

• Activity: Present students with multiple titles, and have them select the one that best fits the text.
• Implementation: Before reading, distribute the titles and ask students to make their choice. After reading, discuss with the class why they chose their particular title and whether it accurately represents the text’s content.

2. True or False:

• Activity: Students determine whether statements are true or false based on the text, providing justifications.
• Implementation: Introduce statements related to the text’s content. Students read the statements first. Then, they read and determine whether the statements are true or false. Encourage students to justify their true or false responses using evidence from the text. This helps students critically assess their comprehension.

3. Questions:

• Activity: Students answer questions about the information in the text.
• Implementation: Provide a set of questions that require students to extract information from the text. They initially read the questions and subsequently try to answer them while reading the text. This activity ensures students actively engage with the material and understand key points.

4. Locating Referents:

• Activity: Students identify what specific words (e.g., he, they, we) in the text refer to.
• Implementation: While reading, ask students to underline or highlight pronouns in the text and identify their antecedents. Discuss the significance of these referents in understanding the text.

5. Information Transfer:

• Activity: Students complete a chart with information from the text.
• Implementation: Provide students with a chart template related to the text’s content. As they read, they fill in the chart with information they gather from the text. This helps students organize and synthesize the material.

6. Inferring Author’s Opinion:

• Activity: Students choose the author’s opinion from a list of options.
• Implementation: While reading, present students with a list of opinions, and ask them to tick the one they believe best reflects the author’s viewpoint. Encourage students to support their choice with text-based evidence.

7. Text Annotation:

• Activity: Encourage students to annotate the text as they read by highlighting key points, underlining details, and making margin notes.
• Implementation: Provide guidelines for effective annotation, such as highlighting main ideas, underlining unfamiliar vocabulary, and jotting down questions. Annotation engages students actively with the text.

8. Character Analysis:

• Activity: Students analyze the development of characters while reading and track character traits, changes, and motivations.
• Implementation: Assign students to track character development by providing character profiles or templates. They update these profiles as they read, noting changes and motivations.

9. Plot Mapping:

• Activity: Students create visual plot representations using timelines, flowcharts, or diagrams as they read.
• Implementation: Before reading, introduce the concept of plot mapping. As students read, they update their visual representations to reflect the sequence of events, helping them understand the narrative structure.

10. Text Prediction:

• Activity: At pivotal moments, students predict what will happen next in the text.
• Implementation: Encourage students to pause and make predictions at key points in the text. After reading, discuss whether their predictions were accurate, fostering predictive reading skills.

11. Summarization:

• Activity: At intervals during reading, students pause to summarize what they’ve read in a sentence or two.
• Implementation: Set designated points in the text where students pause and summarize. Emphasize the importance of capturing key ideas and main points.

12. Compare and Contrast:

• Activity: Students compare and contrast characters, themes, or events using Venn diagrams or graphic organizers as they read.
• Implementation: Provide graphic organizers and ask students to fill them in as they read. This activity encourages critical thinking and analysis.

13. Peer Discussion:

• Activity: At specific points in the text, students engage in peer discussions to share thoughts, questions, or insights.
• Implementation: Designate discussion points or questions that prompt student conversations. Pair or group students for discussions that enhance understanding and engagement.

Post-Reading Stage

After the immersive exploration of the text during the while-reading stage, students embark on the reflective and consolidative phase known as the post-reading stage.

This stage is a critical juncture where learners reflect on, discuss, and synthesize the information they have encountered. Post-reading activities are carefully crafted to reinforce comprehension, encourage critical analysis, and facilitate the application of newfound knowledge.

It’s a moment for students to draw connections between the text and their own experiences, fostering a deeper understanding of the material.

In this section, we will delve into the significance of the post-reading stage and explore activities that allow students to extract lasting insights from their reading experiences, transforming information into meaningful knowledge.

What are Post Reading Activities?

Post-reading activities are intentional tasks or exercises strategically implemented after completing a text, serving as a bridge from the act of reading to a comprehensive understanding.

These activities are designed to facilitate reflection, analysis, and the application of acquired knowledge. By engaging in post-reading activities, readers move beyond the confines of the text, exploring connections to personal experiences, other texts, or the world at large.

As mentioned before, this stage aims to solidify comprehension, encourage critical thinking, and empower readers to derive lasting insights from the material. It is a pivotal moment in the learning process where the information gleaned from the text transforms into a meaningful and applicable understanding.

Examples of Post-reading Activities

1. Summarize the Whole Text:

• Activity: Students are asked to summarize the entire text.
• Implementation: After reading, instruct students to write a concise summary of the text’s main points, characters, and events. Encourage them to capture the essence of the text in a few sentences. This activity helps reinforce their understanding of the text’s core elements.

2. Evaluate the Text:

• Activity: Students assess their thoughts and feelings about the text, identifying aspects they found interesting and those they did not.
• Implementation: Initiate a class discussion where students share what intrigued them in the text and what they may have found less engaging. Encourage them to provide specific examples or evidence from the text to support their evaluations. This activity promotes critical thinking and fosters peer interaction.

3. Completing the Last Column of the KWL Chart:

• Activity: Students fill in the “What I Learned” column of the KWL chart.
• Implementation: Have students complete the final column of the KWL chart after reading. This column should summarize the new knowledge they gained from the text (preferably in bullet points.) To enhance comprehension, students can share their newfound knowledge with peers or present it to the class.

4. Imagining a Different Ending of the Story:

• Activity: Students use their creativity to envision an alternate ending for the story.
• Implementation: Encourage students to write or discuss what they believe could have happened if the story took a different turn. They should consider how this change might affect the plot, characters, or overall message. This activity fosters creative thinking and narrative analysis.

5. Poster Creation:

• Activity: Students design posters related to the text’s content.
• Implementation: After reading, assign students to create visually appealing posters that encapsulate the text’s main themes, characters, or key quotes. Display these posters in the classroom, allowing peers to learn from each other’s interpretations. This activity combines creativity with visual learning.

6. Blog Post:

• Activity: Students compose blog posts offering reactions and analysis of the text.
• Implementation: Encourage students to write blog posts where they react to the text’s content, express their opinions, and provide evidence from the text to support their views. These posts can be shared with peers or published online to encourage authentic communication and digital literacy.

7. Character Dossiers:

• Activity: Students create detailed profiles of key characters from the text, including character traits, motivations, and notable actions.
• Implementation: Provide character dossier templates or guidelines for students to fill out. This activity helps deepen their understanding of the characters’ roles and development.

8. Letter to an Author/Character:

• Activity: Students compose letters to either the author or a character from the text, expressing their thoughts, questions, or emotional responses.
• Implementation: Encourage students to write heartfelt letters, providing an opportunity for them to engage emotionally with the text. These letters can serve as a creative outlet for self-expression and empathy.

9. Book vs. Movie Comparison:

• Activity: If applicable, students compare and contrast the text with its film adaptation, analyzing the plot, characters, and impact.
• Implementation: Facilitate a discussion where students explore the differences between the book and its movie adaptation. This activity cultivates critical thinking and media literacy.

10. Creative Endings:

• Activity: Students craft alternative endings or epilogues for the text, considering how different conclusions may affect the story.
• Implementation: Assign students to write alternative endings, fostering creativity and requiring them to evaluate cause-and-effect relationships within the text.

11. Text-to-World Connections:

• Activity: Students relate the text’s themes or messages to real-world issues or events, emphasizing the text’s broader relevance.
• Implementation: Encourage students to consider how the text’s lessons, themes, or characters connect to contemporary societal or global challenges. This activity promotes critical thinking and the application of literature to the real world.

12. Author Interview:

• Activity: Students conduct role-play interviews with the author, posing questions about the text, characters, and motivations.
• Implementation: Facilitate role-play interviews where students embody the author’s role and engage in an imaginative dialogue. This activity deepens their appreciation of authorship and character development.

13. Creative Multimedia Projects:

• Activity: Students create multimedia projects, such as podcasts, videos, or presentations, to convey their understanding and insights about the text.
• Implementation: Provide guidelines and technology resources for students to design multimedia projects that communicate their interpretations. These projects enhance communication skills and allow for various forms of expression.

14. Group Discussions:

• Activity: In small groups, students discuss their interpretations and reflections on the text.
• Implementation: Encourage students to engage in peer-led group discussions where they share their insights, questions, and opinions about the text. These discussions promote collaboration and encourage diverse perspectives.

Conclusion:

The effectiveness of a reading comprehension lesson plan lies in its structured integration of pre-reading, while reading, and post-reading stages. These stages not only facilitate the development of essential skills but also encourage a deeper connection with the text. By implementing purposeful activities within each stage, educators can empower students to approach reading as an interactive and enriching journey, fostering a lifelong love for learning and understanding.