In my previous posts I basically concentrated on the reading strategies for senior graders. I am going to share with you some reading strategies for the lower intermediate level students. 

First of all, I don't encourage my students to read aloud long passages in class, they can do that at home as extensive reading and in class we more focus on intensive reading as detailed work with the text. I offer my students text analysis exercises as:

• Describe the author's attitude to...

• Look through the following statements and try to spot them in the text if they are there.

• While reading the text pick out the right answer.
  

• Give summary or read statements which confirm your ideas.
  

When skimming, they concentrate on what the writer wishes to say, not on the words they don't know.

As to scanning, I  use this exercise, for instance: Find 2 examples in the text to illustrate the following points... I put questions on the board. They scan paragraphs to answer the questions.

Also, there's reading for full understanding when we read stories. First we cover comprehension questions then get to discussion: How does the story end and what do you think will happen next? Suggest your own title to the text.

Personally, I consider, that starting with the bottom-up strategies and gradually getting to the top-down ones will develop students' metacognitive awareness and reading proficiency.

What reading strategies for the intermediate level do you use when dealing with texts?