The
QAR Approach
(Question Answer Relationships)
Raphael
and Au
This
approach to teaching reading comprehension strategies is based upon
the research of Dr. Taffy Raphael. During her observations of students,
she noted that they often have difficulty answering questions about
text. However, when they were taught specific comprehension strategies,
their comprehension and ability to engage in higher-level thinking
improved.
The
following chart shows the four basic types of questions...
This approach begins by helping young students recognize that answers
to questions about text may be found In
My Head or In the Book.
Older students learn to identify the four different types of questions:
Right There,
Think and Search, On
My Own, and
Author and Me.
Before reading it is helpful to draw on prior knowledge
to "get our brains ready to think about what we will be reading."
An "In My Head", "On
My Own"
type of question is appropriate.
The
teacher might ask:
Have
you ever slept over at someone else’s house?
What do you know about mice?
Younger
students say, "My answer came from "In
My Head." Older students should be able to say that
the answer is "On My Own".
During reading, most questions center on understanding
the text. An
"In the Book" answer
might be "Right There"
(found in one sentence) or "Think and
Search" (found in more than one sentence.) An "In
my Head", "Author
and Me" question might
ask a child to make a prediction about upcoming events in the story.
A
teacher may ask:
What
is Arthur so worried about? ("Right
There")
Why does the rhinoceros cover himself with mud? ("Think
and Search")
What
do you predict will happen next? ("Author
and Me")
Younger
students say, "My answer came from "In
the Book" or "In my
Head". Older students learn to identify the four
different types of questions.
