Signal Words: Connections to Comprehension and Test Taking
Carol Brewer
May 30, 2011
How can Signal Words make the connections from comprehension to test taking?
Signal Words are one of the most powerful comprehension and test taking strategies you can teach your students. Signal Words are words that are evident in the text students read, as well as in the questions that make up the assessments. For example, if your students read a passage that includes Signal Words such as reason and result, they should automatically make the connection to cause and effect. The words reason and result give students the “signal” of which comprehension strategy the text is based on, allowing them to think strategically about the text and apply the correct strategy.
Another way to use Signal Words is through test taking strategies. When students read a question like, “What happened right before the character disappeared?” they should make the connection from “right before” to sequencing and therefore answer the question with their understanding of putting events in order. LEARNING-FOCUSED has created posters with each of the reading comprehension strategies and the signal words that help students make the connection to learning. These posters also include questions that align to the comprehension strategy.
In addition to comprehension and higher level thinking words on your Signal Word list, Larry Bell has created a list of 12 powerful words all students should know to increase test scores and help close the achievement gap. These words are:
1. Trace 2. Analyze 3. Infer
4. Evaluate 5. Formulate 6. Describe
7. Support 8. Explain 9. Summarize
10. Compare 11. Contrast 12. Predict
These words need to be added to any Signal Word list. They will strengthen the students’ understanding of what is read as well as increase achievement. For example, when students are reading a passage and see the word “support,” they should think about the details that back up the information. They should also think about the possible questions that could be included in the assessments such as, “Which of the following details support the final decision?”
Specific activities can strengthen your students understanding of Signals Words. Suggested activities include:
matching the Signal Word to the description of the Signal Word
finding the Signal Words in text – the newspaper works great with this activity
writing text using the Signal Words
highlighting the Signal Words in questions
creating questions with the Signal Words
These activities can be used as Activating Strategies to identify students’ prior knowledge, or as center activities as ongoing practice. Knowing specific Signals Words will strengthen comprehension and test taking strategies.
What engaging activities have you used to make the connection from comprehension to Signal Words?
