Reading Comprehension
Strategy
Strategy: Cloze
Appropriate Grade Level: All grades, First & Second Language Speakers
Procedures/Steps:
 Every nth word of a passage is deleted, and the reader is directed to
supply the missing word.
 Cloze should be used as a process, and should be “worked up to”.
 Initially supply dashes to indicate amount of letters, or provide first
letter of “clozed” word, or use a minimum of deletions. Remove
these accommodations as learners grow.
 Advise students to read entire passage before trying to fill in missing
words.
Comments and/or tips:
 Can be used as a reading comprehension activity, when the whole
body is read all the way through first.
 Can be used as a test on structure, written expression, vocabulary,
and reading comprehension. If used as a test, indicate to students that
a success rate of 50% on the cloze equals 75% on other tests.
 Can replace non listening parts of the TOEFL test.
 Consider mixing multiple choice and free response cloze (multiple
choices available for more difficult words).
Source:
Headley, K. N. & Dunston, P.J. (2000). Teachers’ choices books and
comprehension strategies as transaction tools. The Reading Teacher,
54, 260-8.