R E A P (Read, Encode, Annotate, Ponder)

Lit Tip #25
March 2005
R E A P (Read, Encode, Annotate, Ponder)
What is it?
REAP is a strategy for helping readers read and understand a text. REAP is an acronym
for READ, ENCODE, ANNOTATE, PONDER.
Why use it?
As students go back to the text for each stage of REAP they will consider the text from a
different vantage. Each stage asks the student to analyze the text at a higher level to
increase and deepen comprehension.
How Does It Work? After you have modeled and provided guided practice with this
strategy, ask students to:
1. R – read on your own
2. E – encode the text by putting the gist of what you read in your own words
3. A – annotate the text by writing down the main ideas (notes, significant words,
quotes) and the author’s message
4. P – ponder what you read by thinking and talking with others in order to make
personal connections, develop questions about the topic, and/or connect this
reading to other reading you have done
Example: Social Studies from the classroom of Christine Landaker.
REAP
See page two for blank worksheet.
Adapted from Janet Allen: Tools for Teaching Content Literacy, 2004
R
Title: The Great Depression
E
On margin: borrowing money to
buy stock from your broker.
A
As long as the value of stock
continued to rise, the buyer could sell
later, pay back what he borrowed, and
make a profit.
*Some investor started to sell stock in
September in fear the boom would
end.
P
B.B. – the problem that led to the
Great Depression began to give out
warning signals in the early
1920’s.
Question: Did any one think the
crisis was temporary?
Lit Tip #25
March 2005
R E A P
R E
A P
R Read the text. Jot down the title and author
E Encode the text by putting the main ideas in your own words/language
A Annotate the text by writing a statement that summarizes the important points
P Ponder the text by thinking and talking about what you learned. Ask yourself why
the author wrote the text. What do you think the author hope you’ll learn?