Why use the QAR strategy?
QAR empowers students to think about the text they are reading and beyond it. It inspires them to think creatively and work cooperatively while challenging them to use literal and higher-level thinking skills.
How to create and use the strategy
QAR is a simple strategy to teach students as long as you model, model, model.
- Depending on your students, you may choose to teach each type of question individually or as a group. Explain to students that there are four types of questions they will encounter. Define each type of question and give an example.
- Read a short passage aloud to your students.
- Have predetermined questions you will ask after you stop reading. When you have finished reading, read the questions aloud to students and model how you decide which type of question you have been asked to answer.
- Next, show your students how find information to answer your question (i.e., in the text, from your own experiences, etc.).
- After you have modeled your thinking process for each type of question, invite students to read another passage on their own, using a partner to determine the type of question and how to find the answer.
- After students have practiced this process for several types of questions and over several lessons, you may invite students to read passages and try to create different types of questions for the reading.
Strategy in action
Let’s watch as a teacher implements the QAR strategy with an informational text her students are reading.
