Anticipation+Guides


 * Summary **

// Anticipation Guides // (Lenski et. al, 2011: 16) are a literacy strategy designed to “activate” student thought and prior knowledge on an array of topics. Anticipation guides are flexible strategies that can span disciplines and forms of media. They can be used to activate student thought in regard to a piece of text, music, or film. Anticipation guides are the most effective when they are used as the basis for classroom discussions. Students can use them to develop their own individual thoughts and opinions and then easily share them with the class as individuals or in groups. Anticipation guides get students to start thinking about what is important in a given topic and guides them to identifying that important information when they begin reading a piece of text.


 * Directions **

1) ** Identify ** the major concepts that you want students to become familiar with as a result of engaging with the assigned text material. Once you identify the main concepts, consider what prior knowledge they may be bringing to class with them whether that information is true or not. 2) ** Create ** a series of statements that relate to the main concepts that you have identified. Write the statements on the board or hand out a hard copy. The most effective statements are ones that will be familiar to students, but that they do not have complete understanding of. 3) ** Explain ** to students that before they read a new piece of text that they are to respond to the statements by putting a check mark next to the ones that they agree with or think to be true. 4) After students respond to the statements have a class **Discussion** about the statements and student opinions surrounding them. This step allows them to use prior knowledge to formulate arguments. 5) ** Read ** the text and then have students revisit the anticipation guide. Encourage students to discuss in small groups or as a class what they have learned. Students should also be encouraged to make changes to their anticipation guides in light of new information.


 * Example **

Read the statements below. In the space next to each statement put check mark next to the ones you think or believe to be true. After you have completed the anticipation guide read the section of text on how a bill becomes a law in your text. When you are done reading, revisit the anticipation guide and make any changes to your responses in light of new information.

1) A bill is passed by either the Senate or the House and is then sent to the president for signing.

2) If the President disapproves of a bill he can veto it.

3) To overturn a presidential veto it only takes a 50% plus one vote.

4) If the House changes a bill passed by the senate, a joint committee must be appointed to reach a compromise.