Identifying Confusions While Reading and Repairing Them

Good readers recognize when they are confused so they can problem solve. An issue occurs when readers don’t stop to figure out how to help themselves understand and instead just keep reading.

There 6 basic signs that let a reader know when a section or word is confusing.

1) The reader isn't making connections or meaningful thoughts.

2) The reader can't see the story in his/her head.

3) The reader's mind begins to wander.

4) The reader can’t remember what he/she has read.

5) The reader can’t explain what is happening or summarize the information.

6) The reader realizes he/she don’t know a character, the setting, or what the point of the passage is about.

Once readers realize they are confused they can try to work through their confusion.

If it is an idea that’s confusing…

• Make a connection
• Make an inference
• Ask questions
• Notice patterns in text
• Use punctuation to read
• Slow down reading
• Visualize it
• Stop and think about what was already read
• Retell it or reflect on it in writing
• Reread

If it is a word that’s confusing…

• Ask someone
• Use the glossary provided or a dictionary
• Look at how it is used in the sentence
• Think of a word that could replace it and mean the same thing
• Look for a familiar part
• If it doesn't disrupt reading, mark it to be solved later

Good reading is about problem solving.

Wishing you homeschool blessings,