Reading Comprehension
Subtext Strategy
Appropriate Grade Level: K-12 (Depends on what book you are using)
Procedures/Steps:
o This strategy is for students to go beyond the literal text, and to make personal
stories by actually putting themselves in the story
o To begin with pick a story (in this article they read Ruby the Copycat) teacher
went thought the story doing a “picture walk” using the illustrations to make
predictions about Ruby before reading the story aloud to them.
o The teacher tells the students that they are going to act out the story, but not the
way you would normally do it. This time they will add what the characters are
thinking and feeling.
o As the story is read the teacher will pause and give that character a chance to tell
the class what they are thinking and feeling.
o After the students understood what to do they got divided up into groups-multiple
groups of Ruby’s as well as other characters, each group go a stack of sticky
notes. They had to write down what they were thinking or feeling and put the
sticky notes into the book.
o After the students have done this they each got to perform in front of the class
offering their subtext to other students.
Comments and/or tips: There are many benefits of the subtext strategystudents are able to make connections, develop new skills, going beyond just
visualizing to “becoming” and also adding a deeper understanding or
empathy for characters.
Source:
Clyde, J. (2003). Stepping inside the story world: The Subtext StrategyA tool for connecting and comprehending. The Reading Teacher,
57, 150-160.