Search

KWL

< Back to All Comprehension Strategies

Comprehension2

KWL

Purpose:

KWL activates readers' prior knowledge before reading, engages their attention while reading and supports understanding after reading.

How:

  1. Before reading ask readers:
    • what do they know about the topic
    • what do they want to know about the topic
  2. After reading ask readers:
    •    what did they learn about the topic 

Note: The KWL strategy can be used individually or as a group. Responses to the prompts can be captured in print or through conversation. Either way, it is important to understand what readers already know and what they want to know about a topic.  

See It In Action

Watch:

Instructional Strategies video -- The KWL Strategy

https://youtu.be/PvF0ON4olOc

Listen:

The Answers May Vary Resource Collection on the CALP Portal includes a short audio file dedicated to KWL from Chapter 2 of the AMV Guidebook ‘Strategies to Build Literacy and Essential Skills into Daily Life’.

https://centreforfoundationallearning.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/amv_kwl_-learning_strategy_audio_6.mp3

Downloadable Template:

Download a KWL chart

https://calp.ca/_uploads/5dd2e45907322.pdf

Read More:

Practitioner’s Shortcut blog: K-W-L

https://calp.ca/blog/practitioners-shortcuts-k-w-l.htm