Abstract of

Teaching Tips
Mind Magnets

Callie L. Fortenberry

Teri W. Fowler

Mind magnets are maps to guide instruction and facilitate the comprehension processes. They extend individual comprehension strategy instruction, which does not typically show students how to link application of appropriate strategies to whole texts.

The mind magnet framework allows teachers to plan powerful interactions between the reader and the text to maximize comprehension. A mind magnet is not a strategy but rather a technique used to activate the metacognitive processes of knowing how and when to apply a strategy to enhance comprehension. Mind magnets employ before-, during-, and after-reading activities designed to attract the reader's thoughts to elements of text critical for meaning construction.

Abstract from Fortenberry, C.L., & Fowler, T.W. (2006, December). Mind Magnets. The Reading Teacher, 60(4), 373–376. doi: 10.1598/RT.60.4.7