Active reading

Active reading is a strategy where students engage with the text as they read by predicting, summarising, and reflecting on its content. In class, this involves pausing during reading to ask questions, discuss key ideas, and encourage students to think critically about what they are reading.

For example, a teacher might stop at a pivotal moment in a story and ask, “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why do you think this character made that choice?” After completing a section, students can summarise the main events or explain the key ideas in their own words.

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Classroom

Reading

Active reading

Active reading

For students with lower reading scores

Why this helps

Active reading transforms reading into an interactive process, keeping students engaged and helping them develop comprehension and critical thinking skills. By predicting, summarising, and discussing, students strengthen their ability to connect ideas, retain information, and think critically about the text. This approach also encourages active participation, boosting confidence and fostering a deeper understanding of the material.

Examples for each age

For younger students (ages 7–11)

While reading a story about a journey, the teacher might pause and ask, “Where do you think the characters will go next? Why?” After finishing the chapter, students could summarise the main events by drawing a quick map of the journey.

For older students (ages 11–16)

During a novel study, the teacher might stop and ask, “What themes are starting to appear in this chapter? Can you find evidence to support that?” After the reading, students could discuss how a character’s decisions align with the text’s broader themes.

By turning reading into an interactive and reflective process, active reading helps students build essential comprehension skills and engage deeply with the material.

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