Strategy 1: Plan/Prepare with THIEVES

Level of Familiarity 5

What is it?

THIEVES is a pre-reading strategy which stands for title, heading, introduction, every first sentence in a paragraph, visuals and vocabulary, end of chapter questions, and summary (Manz, 2002).  Students preview an expository text using the acronym to make predictions of the content and have a framework for comprehension.

Why use it?

Using this strategy will help my students have a framework for understanding “The End of Prosperity” section in the Holt United States History textbook.  The review of the chapter in the textbook will aid my students by allowing them to preview the text without the cognitive load of full comprehension.  By breaking down the components of the expository text before reading, my students will be less overwhelmed with actual content in the reading.  Since many of my students have Learning Disabilities, this strategy will hopefully scaffold a strong comprehension of the text.

How to use it?

1. I will remind my students of the THIEVES strategy, which they have been exposed to throughout the school year.  I will have THIEVES written on the board and ask my students to remember what each word stands for.
2. As a class, we will fill in the top of the worksheet so that students will not have trouble forgetting the steps/components of the strategy while working.
3. I will explain that students will complete the strategy independently, then discuss our findings in pairs/groups.  (After group discussion of the THIEVES findings, students will actually read the text for comprehension.)
4. After we review the steps of the strategy, students will complete the strategy using Section 1 of Chapter 25 in the textbook independently.  
5. Once students have completed the THIEVES worksheet, the class will discuss how the title, The End of Prosperity, relates to the content in the reading. 
6. We will also review key vocabulary in the reading.  Students will be asked to volunteer responses to key vocabulary found in the reading.
7. HOMEWORK would be answering the end of chapter questions.
8. We will compile a summary of the reading at the beginning of the following class.

What is looks like?

Name:____________________________________    Pre-Reading THIEVES Strategy

Chapter 25, Section 1 The End of Prosperity, pages 778-782

Directions: Fill in the strategy components discussed in our class brainstorm of the THIEVES strategy.  After, preview the text using the strategy and answer the following questions.

THIEVES Strategy/Steps:

T:

H:

I:

E:

V:

E:

S:

TITLE

1. The Title of this section is _______________________________________________

1. What do I already know about this topic? ___________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

1. Does the title have a point of view? ______ If so, what?________________________

______________________________________________________________________

1. What do you think you will be reading about?________________________________

HEADINGS

1. List the headings you found in the section:

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

INTRODUCTION

1. Read the If you were there... introduction.  What does that paragraph make you think you will be reading about?

______________________________________________________________________

1. What do you already know about the topic? _________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

EVERY FIRST SENTENCE

Read the first sentence of each paragraph in the entire section.

VISUALS and VOCABULARY

As you go through the text, look at the images, charts, and graphs.

1. What do the visuals make you think of from earlier in the year? _________________

_____________________________________________________________________

1. List the key vocabulary terms you found (these are usually in bold):

____________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

1. List any other words that you are NOT familiar with:

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

END of CHAPTER QUESTIONS

Look at the questions on page 782.  Keep these questions in mind when you read the passage.  You will answer the questions for HW.

1. What information are the questions asking about? ___________________________

______________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY (we will do together next class)

Possible Main Ideas:

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

Important Details:

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________