Ready to rock the ParaPro Reading test? Our guide makes mastering student strategies super clear, so you can excel as a teaching assistant!
What Are Student Strategies?
This section of our ParaPro Study Guide explores student strategies, focusing on how paraprofessionals support student learning beyond basic reading skills. These strategies include pre-reading preparation, overcoming reading roadblocks, assessing comprehension, using dictionaries effectively, and interpreting instructions. As a paraprofessional, mastering these helps you foster student growth and critical thinking in the classroom.
Developing these skills prepares you for exam questions and equips you to guide students effectively.
Why Student Strategies Matter
About 10-15 of the 90 questions, focusing on application, test your ability to apply student strategies, assessing your support skills in real classroom scenarios. This is essential for helping students prepare, comprehend, and follow tasks, skills you’ll use daily as a teaching assistant to enhance their academic success.
Types of Classroom Skills
Helping Students With Pre-reading Strategies
Pre-reading strategies prepare students to engage with text by setting the right mindset and providing tools for understanding. As a paraprofessional, you’ll guide students to scan text (e.g., noting titles or formatting like centered poetry lines), make predictions (e.g., “Adventures in a Time Machine” suggests science fiction), and use activities like K-W-L charts (Know-Want to Know-Learned) or background context (e.g., Dickens’ England for “A Christmas Carol”). Expanding vocabulary with new words beforehand also aids comprehension.
Example 1
Directions: Use the scenario below to answer the question that follows.
A paraprofessional is starting a unit on ancient Egypt. What pre-reading activity would best assess student knowledge?
- A) Have students read an Egyptian myth
- B) Ask students to complete a K-W-L chart
- C) Show a documentary on pyramids
- D) Assign a history textbook chapter
Answer: B) Ask students to complete a K-W-L chart
Explanation: A K-W-L chart reveals what students already know, unlike reading or watching, which teaches new information. Test tip: Choose activities that assess prior knowledge!
Example 2
Directions: Use the scenario below to answer the question that follows.
The title is “The Mystery of the Lost City.” The text begins, “Deep in the jungle, explorers found ruins.”
Question: What genre can students predict?
- A) Biography
- B) Adventure
- C) Poetry
- D) Instruction manual
Answer: B) Adventure
Explanation: The title and “explorers found ruins” suggest an adventure narrative. Test tip: Use titles and opening lines for clues!
Example 3
Directions: Use the scenario below to answer the question that follows.
A text has bolded subheadings and a glossary. What can students infer?
- A) It’s a fictional story
- B) It’s an informational text
- C) It’s a personal letter
- D) It’s a poem
Answer: B) It’s an informational text
Explanation: Bolded subheadings and a glossary indicate a structured, informative format. Test tip: Note text features!
Guiding Students Through Reading Roadblocks
Paraprofessionals must help students overcome reading challenges, such as understanding multiple word meanings or identifying main ideas. Use context clues (e.g., surrounding words) and root word analysis (e.g., prefixes like “re-” in “restraint”) instead of relying on dictionaries or giving answers directly.
Example 1
Directions: Use the scenario below to answer the question that follows.
Students struggle with “brave” in “The knight was brave in battle.” What strategy helps?
- A) Look it up in a dictionary
- B) Use context clues from “battle”
- C) Ask a friend
- D) Skip and return later
Answer: B) Use context clues from “battle”
Explanation: “Battle” implies courage, guiding the meaning of “brave.” Test tip: Encourage context over shortcuts!
Example 2
Directions: Use the scenario below to answer the question that follows.
Students can’t find the main idea in a paragraph about a new park.
- A) Tell them the main idea
- B) Have them list key details
- C) Look it up online
- D) Skip to the next paragraph
Answer: B) Have them list key details
Explanation: Details help deduce the main idea, fostering critical thinking. Test tip: Focus on detail analysis!
Example 3
Directions: Use the scenario below to answer the question that follows.
The word “conduct” confuses students in “The conductor will conduct the orchestra.”
- A) Provide the definition
- B) Analyze “conduct” as a verb
- C) Use a dictionary first
- D) Ask another student
Answer: B) Analyze “conduct” as a verb
Explanation: Context and part of speech clarify meaning (leading the orchestra). Test tip: Teach word function!
Making Accurate Observations About a Student’s Ability to Understand a Text
Assessing student comprehension involves observing their ability to infer, summarize, or follow ideas. Ask targeted questions (e.g., “What does the narrator believe?”) and use their responses to gauge understanding.
Example 1
Directions: Use the excerpt below to answer the question that follows.
“The dog barked loudly. The mailman fled.”
Question: What question assesses comprehension?
- A) Did the dog scare the mailman?
- B) Tell me the story’s ending
- C) What color was the dog?
- D) Skip to the next part
Answer: A) Did the dog scare the mailman?
Explanation: This question tests inference from actions. Test tip: Use open-ended inference questions!
Example 2
Directions: Use the excerpt below to answer the question that follows.
“The rain fell hard. The farmer smiled.”
Question: What assesses understanding?
- A) Why did the farmer smile?
- B) What’s the next sentence?
- C) Count the words
- D) Give the answer
Answer: A) Why did the farmer smile?
Explanation: This encourages inference about context (e.g., rain helps crops). Test tip: Focus on reasoning!
Example 3
Directions: Use the excerpt below to answer the question that follows.
“The child hid the toy. The parent searched.”
Question: What gauges comprehension?
- A) What color was the toy?
- B) Why did the child hide it?
- C) Tell me a new story
- D) Look it up
Answer: B) Why did the child hide it?
Explanation: This tests inference from actions. Test tip: Ask “why” or “how” questions!
Helping Students Use a Dictionary
Guide students to use dictionaries as a learning tool, not a crutch. Teach them to explore multiple meanings (e.g., “ship” as noun or verb), create graphic organizers (e.g., synonyms for “incredulous”), and verify spelling.
Example 1
Directions: Use the scenario below to answer the question that follows.
Students encounter “run” in “I run to school.” What dictionary use helps?
- A) Look up and take the first meaning
- B) Explore “run” as a verb
- C) Ask a classmate
- D) Skip the word
Answer: B) Explore “run” as a verb
Explanation: Context (moving to school) fits “run” as a verb. Test tip: Analyze part of speech!
Example 2
Directions: Use the scenario below to answer the question that follows.
Students learn “hope” before a unit. What activity fits?
- A) Write a synonym list
- B) Look up every use
- C) Ask the teacher
- D) Ignore it
Answer: A) Write a synonym list
Explanation: A synonym list (e.g., optimism) reinforces vocabulary. Test tip: Encourage organizers!
Example 3
Directions: Use the scenario below to answer the question that follows.
“Lead” confuses students in “She will lead the team.”
- A) Give the definition
- B) Check multiple meanings
- C) Skip to the next word
- D) Use a thesaurus only
Answer: B) Check multiple meanings
Explanation: “Lead” as a verb (guide) fits the context. Test tip: Explore all senses!
Interpreting Written Instructions
Paraprofessionals must model and assess students’ ability to follow instructions. Read scenarios carefully, noting sequence words (e.g., “first,” “after”), and avoid skimming. Guide students to break instructions into steps and check examples.
Example 1
Directions: Use the scenario below to answer the question that follows.
Instructions: “Read the poem, then write a summary.” What’s the first step?
- A) Write the summary
- B) Read the poem
- C) Skip to the end
- D) Ask a friend
Answer: B) Read the poem
Explanation: “Then” indicates reading comes first. Test tip: Follow sequence words!
Example 2
Directions: Use the scenario below to answer the question that follows.
Instructions: “Draw a picture, then color it.” What follows drawing?
- A) Erase the drawing
- B) Color the picture
- C) Start over
- D) Show the teacher
Answer: B) Color the picture
Explanation: “Then” indicates coloring next. Test tip: Note order cues!
Example 3
Directions: Use the scenario below to answer the question that follows.
Instructions: “Write your name, then answer the questions.” What’s step two?
- A) Write your name again
- B) Answer the questions
- C) Skip the questions
- D) Read the instructions
Answer: B) Answer the questions
Explanation: “Then” points to answering next. Test tip: Underline key steps!
Reading and Analyzing Student Strategies
On the exam, you’ll analyze scenarios to apply strategies like pre-reading or instruction-following. Underline key terms (e.g., “predict,” “main idea”) and match them to appropriate actions. Cross-check with student needs to ensure relevance.
Easy Steps to Master Student Strategies
Here’s how to master student strategies:
- Identify the student’s need (e.g., pre-reading, comprehension).
- Select a strategy (e.g., K-W-L, context clues).
- Guide with questions or activities, not answers.
- Observe and adjust based on student response.
- Reinforce with practice and feedback.
Test tip: Match strategies to scenarios carefully!
Quiz for Topic
Ready to test your skills? Try our student strategies quiz below to practice more!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I pick the right strategy?
Match the student’s challenge to the strategy. Tip: Use scenario clues!
Are these questions tough?
Not with practice! Focus on application. Tip: Review examples!
How many strategy questions are there?
About 10-15 out of 90 questions. Tip: Try our free tests!
Will this help my teaching?
Yes! It boosts student support skills. Tip: Practice with peers!
Where can I practice more?
Our site offers free ParaPro tests on strategies. Try classroom scenarios! Tip: Practice daily!