QAR Question-Answer Relationships Grades 1-5 Burlington County Academy September 28, 2007

What is QAR? It is a framework developed by Taffy Rafael that helps students figure out how to go about answering questions based on a given text. It is a way to improve literacy instruction.

Why use QAR? It provides a language for all to use It provides a language for all to use Organizes instruction Organizes instruction Encourages students to think about what they are reading Encourages students to think about what they are reading Valuable approach for test preparation Valuable approach for test preparation

4 Types of Comprehension Questions QARs Right There Think & Search Author & Me On My Own

“Right There” Explicit meaning Explicit meaning The answer is in one place The answer is in one place Often the words from the question and the answer are in the same sentence Often the words from the question and the answer are in the same sentence “Reading the lines” “Reading the lines”

“Think and Search” Answers are found in the text but not in one place Students must read entire text to find answer Information must be connected

“Author and Me” The answer is not in the text The answer is not in the text Students must use text clues and what they know to generate an answer Students must use text clues and what they know to generate an answer “Reading between the lines” “Reading between the lines”

“On My Own” The answer comes from prior knowledge The answer comes from prior knowledge Can be answered without the text Can be answered without the text Answers are opinions, evaluations, or judgments Answers are opinions, evaluations, or judgments “reading beyond the lines” “reading beyond the lines”

Samples for Each Type of QAR for The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Potter 1955) taken from Guided Reading A How-To For All Grades by Bonnie Burns Comprehension LevelDescriptionSample Questions Right There/LiteralThe answer to these questions are the easiest level of comprehension. Answers can be found right in the text in one location. Where did Mrs. Rabbit tell her children not to go? Who are Peter’s brothers and sisters? Think and Search/ Literal Rearranged The answers to these questions are explicitly stated but are not found all in one location. What happened after Mr. McGregor first saw Peter? Where were all the places that Peter hid from Mr. McGregor? Author and Me/ Inferential The answers to these questions are based on the text but also use past experiences & common sense. They must be probable answers not just wild guesses. Was Peter just naughty or curious? When the old mouse could not tell Peter where the gate was, why do you think Peter started to cry? On My Own/ Critical The answers to these questions are not found in the text. They are questions of opinion, evaluation, or judgment. What might happen if you go into someone’s garden without permission? Should children be punished when they disobey their parents?