Pattern Guide strategy

Pattern Guide

Reading component  Comprehension
Related Standard(s) of Learning

Overview of the strategy
The Pattern Guide strategy, developed by Herber, demonstrates the predominant pattern the author used to construct the text. Pattern guides can help readers recognize causal relationships as well as patterns of organization. These guides, also called graphic organizers, should be chosen or created by the teacher to match the text to help students recognize the relationship between main ideas and details as well as to facilitate note taking while reading.

Strategy procedure
1.  Choose a text on the instructional reading level of the students that shows a strong organizational pattern.
2.  Choose/create a Pattern Guide or graphic organizer to match the text. Examples of Pattern Guides for commonly used patterns of organization are shown on the next page. Fill in one or several parts of the guide to demonstrate completion of the guide.
3.  Distribute the text and the pattern guide. Read aloud a portion of the text and pause to fill in a portion of the guide.
4.  Have students read and complete the guide individually or with partners.
5.  Repeat with different patterns of organization and with texts constructed with more subtle patterns of organization.