What’s the Signal?

Carol Brewer
Oct 13, 2008

Using signal words is one of the most powerful strategies taught to students. These are words that make the connections to understanding. They can be found in the reading comprehension strategies and have a direct correlation to text structures. For example, if the student reads a passage that includes signal words such as alike and different, they should make the connection to a compare and contrast passage. Alike and different give students the "signal" of what the words on the page are doing.

Another way to use signal words is through the questioning techniques.  If students have the question, "What is the text mostly about?", the students should make the connection from "mostly about" to main idea and therefore answer the question with their understanding of main idea or the big picture. Many teachers create charts with each of the reading comprehension strategies and the signal words that help students make the connection to learning.

To see example lessons with signal words, and gain more knowledge of signal words and other strategies to help your students become better readers attend a Learning-Focused Reading Comprehension for ELA Teachers workshop at the 2009 National Learning-Focused Conference or check out the Reading Comprehension K-5 book and flipchart, or the 6-12 book and flipchart!