1. Reading Comprehension Exploration Test
Student
Date Not yet Sometimes Yes
When the student is puzzled while reading, does he routinely try harder
to understand?
 Does the student reread puzzling text
 Does the student skip a few words to see if it makes sense when
one reads on a bit?
 Does the student seek material at a more introductory level?
Does the student show an understanding of how to learn effectively?
 Does the student pause in reading to ask questions to determine
if he has been able to build a mental representation of the
passage topic?
 Does the student use a dictionary to clarify the meaning of the
puzzling words in the passage?
 Does the student seek to talk about material read to better
understand and remember?
 Does the student highlight what must be remembered to limit
material to review for a test or just to remember for life?
 Does the student use mnemonic tactics such as creating
acronyms to remember information (e.g., Remembering the
word HOMES can help one name the great lakes)?
 Does the student use study procedures, such as previewing text,
setting questions before reading, trying to answer the questions
after reading, and reviewing the text to re‐study points?
 Does the student know that he should pay vigilant attention
when his teachers teach a guided or directed reading lesson
before assigning reading?
 Does the student realize that there are ways other than reading
to learn information (e.g., Does the student know that if he
cannot read the words, he can still learn the information if he
can get someone to read and discuss the text with him)?
 Does the student understand that if he reads widely on many
topics he will learn more information and vocabulary so that he
will be able to listen to or read more and more material,
including text that is increasingly sophisticated (Rogers, 2002)?
 Does the student take responsibility for studying by practicing
good study habits (e.g., setting aside adequate time to study for
tests and to prepare projects)?
 Does the student make notes, document sources, make graphic
aids, outline, draft, and revise writing as a way to learn?
 Does the student know that if he cannot understand the text (or
lecture or videotaped material), he will be able to understand a
more introductory presentation of the information?

2. Can the student find the text he must read to learn?
 Can the student use book parts to find the title of a work, as well
as the author, publisher, city of publication, edition, copyright
date, and so forth.
 Can the student quickly locate and understand the function of
book parts such as preface, foreword, introduction, table of
contents, list of figures, chapter headings, subtitles, footnotes,
bibliography, glossary, index, and appendices?
 Can the student locate information in a dictionary (e.g., use
guidewords and a thumb index, locate root words, use the
pronunciation guide, select the word meaning appropriate to the
passage)?
 Can a student use encyclopaedias?
 Can he use information retrieval tools such as an electronic card
catalogue in a library, an online database, or an Internet search
engine?
Can the student use the graphic aids the author uses in place of text to
convey the message?
 Can the student read graphs, charts, tables, cartoons, pictures,
diagrams?