SPREADS Specific Reading Strategy

I haven't yet figured out why educators love acronyms. Even when it comes to reading strategies, acronyms abound. One such reading strategy that makes use of letters is called a SPREAD. What exactly is a SPREADS, when do you use it, and how is it used in the classroom.

SPREADS is an acronym for Scan, Predict, Read, Evaluate, Authorize, Details and Summary. It is a strategy that can be used to help students better understand what they are reading. It is meant to increase their comprehension with the hopes that, after using the strategy a few times, students will automatically start asking themselves the 7 SPREADS questions. Fluent readers answer these questions without prompting, and probably with out even realizing. Next time you read a text or article, see if you don't automatically answer the questions.

More specifically , the SPREADS asks student's to think deeper about what they are reading. They will first scan the story looking for pictures, heading, and tables or graphs that might give them a clue as to the meaning about the story or text. Next, they will predict from their scanning what the story is about or the text. They will then read the story, either independently or cooperatively. .Afterward, they will evaluate what they have read . This usually requires in depth question that the teacher formulate about the text, asking the students to answer, Sometimes I ask the students to come up with three question on their own about the text and to answer them. The student's will then authorize or figure out what the author's purpose was in writing. Did he want to persuade, inform, or entertain or just share. For details, the students will write down at least three major details that happened in the story. And finally, the students will write a summary of what they have read, including the main ideas. The students can either write the information on their own paper, being sure to keep with the SPREADS format, or they can use a SPREADS graphic organizer. What i generally do, is have the students fold their papers into eight small squares, where they will label and answer each of the SPREADS questions. The last square is used to either draw a picture, or make a final comment about what they have read.

After completing the SPREADS sheet, I usually place a poster in the front of the room, and ask for volunteers to place the information on our SPREADs poster. I have found that they love to write with the scented markers, and will all volunteer to come up front.

This strategy is to be used both before and after reading. There is no during reading portion for this strategy. it works best with fictional writing, rather than textbook materials. But i can be adapted to be used with subject matter reading materials.

After modeling the SPREADS strategy a few times, your student should be able to do it on their own. Over time, you will find that their comprehension of what they read increases.