These strategies will be used during read-alouds. It involves reading and using critical-thinking skills. The lesson will use character mapping to make predictions about a story. It involves story mapping to encourage independent reading. The strategies encourage students to support one another and become confident in reading. First, select a read aloud. Think about the story. Read the story and stop at various points. Discuss with the students what's happening and what they think will happen next. Next, map the characters. As the teacher reads the story, the class continually refers back to what they already know about the characters and adds new information. The children make predictions based on this information. Finally, map the story. The story map includes information about the characters, setting, problem, main events, and resolution. The students review the story map before reading a new chapter. I am currently reading a Junie B. Jones book to my kindergarten class. I began character mapping after learning of this strategy. We were already in chapter four, but the kindergarteners didn't seem to notice. They love this part of the read aloud time! I have been pleasantly surprised by some of the predictions of a few of my normally quiet students.