Reading Strategy: Skimming and Scanning

Skimming & Scanning 

 Teaching context: ESL in Middle/ High School Level 

 Proficiency level: Intermediate to advanced (ESL)

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One of the most valuable strategies to teach students when learning to read is skimming and scanning. English Language Learners will benefit the most from learning how to skim and scan. 

Skimming consists of quickly running one's eyes across a whole text such as an article or a chapter of a book, for its information. By skimming, students are able to predict the purpose of the story, the main topic or message, and some supporting evidence. After making predictions and skimming for details and/ or pictures, these predictions makes them "a head start as they embark on more focused reading" (Brown, 2001). To help students practice this strategy, give students a text to read, give them 5 minutes so the students can skim through it. After five minutes ask them what do they see, what predictions can they make? You can ask questions such as "what do you think this book is about?" 

Scanning is means to quickly search for some particular piece or pieces of information in a text. This strategy helps students to extract specific information without reading through the whole text. For example, for ELL students, scanning can help students to look through schedules, manuals, forms, etc. Teachers can apply this strategy by asking "students to look for names or dates, to find a definition of a key concept, or to list a certain number of supporting details. 

During different academic and state assessments students will need to skim and scan through the text provided and will have an estimated amount of time. Students need to be able to practice and use the strategy efficiently. 

Scanning and skimming can help teachers address all WIDA standards. It can be used and applied in all standards. Students can discuss their findings and use their reading skills to be able to skim and scan.