Cognitive processing Top-down vs bottom-up processing

KWL chart (Know, Want to Know, Learned)
KWL chart is an excellent reading strategy to guide learners through a text. KWL stands for Know, Want to Know, Learned. The aim is to elicit learners’ prior knowledge of the topic of the text and set a purpose for the reading activity. Here is how to proceed:

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  Students draw a chart like the one below.
  
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  They start by writing everything they know everything they already know about a topic on the K (Know) column.
  
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  Students then list questions about what they want to know about the topic in the W (Want to Know) column.
  
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  During or after reading, students answer the questions that are in the W (Want to Know) column and record them in the L (Learned) column.
  

K (Know)	W (Want to Know)	L (Learned)
… … …	… … …	… … …

Cloud of words
This is an excellent activity to prepare students for the topic of the text and the vocabulary they are going to encounter.

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  The teacher provides the title of the text.
  
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  The learners work together in groups to make guesses about the topic.
  
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  Then, the teacher provides a cloud of scattered words (relevant and irrelevant words to the text)
  
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  They try to identify which ones of these words the learners will find in the text (they may use their dictionary).
  

Videos
Videos are an excellent tool to create a context for the reading activity and to bridge the gap between listening, writing, speaking, and reading skills.

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  Choose a short video related to the topic of the reading.
  
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  Set a purpose for students while they are watching the video. For example, ask a focus question, or ask them to complete a chart while they are watching the video.
  
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  After watching the video, students work in groups to agree on their answers.
  
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  After correction, students may discuss the video.