Probable+Passage

Here, we would like you to share Probable Passage word lists that you create for the stories you are working on with students. Please name them "Probable Passage for (story name)".
What? It's a strategy to improve comprehension, develop an awareness of story structure, and increase vocabulary development.

Why? Use it as a "before reading" activity to introduce readers to vocabulary they will encounter and provide an incentive to read and discover that the story follows the outline that has been suggested. When first introducing the strategy, it is important that the teacher models each stage, always thinking aloud.

How?
 * Choose eight to twelve words or phrases from the story and write them on a list on the board or chart paper. The words could reflect the characters, setting, problem, and outcomes, as well as some unknown words that are critical to the theme of the selection.
 * Pass out the Probable Passage worksheet that includes boxes that are labeled "Characters," "Setting," "Problem," "Outcomes," and "Unknown Words." In addition to these boxes, there are lines designated for writing a gist or prediction. There is also a “to discover” section that includes what you hope to find out or questions you would have.
 * * After completing independently, the students can work in small groups and discuss all of the words and phrases and where they placed each one. As many of these as possible should be used, but it is not necessary to place all of them in a box. It is important to remind the class that the "Unknown Words" are ones that the meanings are not known, not just those that the group can't decide into which box they should go.
 * *Then write the gist or prediction statement as well as the questions.
 * * When the worksheets are filled-in, each group shares the results and reads their gist statement to the whole class.
 * * Brainstorm as a class what they want to discover when reading the selection.
 * * Read the piece of text
 * * After reading, compare the Probable Passages and discuss into what categories the author would have placed the words. Also, students can reflect how using this strategy helped in understanding the text.