What is an "anticipation guide" used for?

An "anticipation guide" is a tool designed to engage students' prior knowledge and beliefs regarding a topic before they begin reading a text. By prompting students to reflect on their opinions, attitudes, or understandings related to specific statements or questions, an anticipation guide helps activate their background knowledge. This process can increase engagement and prepare students for the concepts they will encounter in the text, enabling them to make connections between their pre-existing thoughts and the new information presented in the material. Such a strategy not only encourages critical thinking but also fosters a deeper comprehension of the reading.