While many teachers teach comprehension strategies by concentrating on isolated skills, often in the form of worksheet drills, comprehension is actually an active, constructive process that occurs before, during and after reading a particular selection. In order to comprehend reading material, readers must merge the knowledge they already own, often referred to as prior knowledge, with the information they are reading. When students link new information to prior knowledge, their interest and curiosity are motivated. While identifying noteworthy information in nonfiction texts is relatively easy for most students, particularly if the text is well-structured, students often have difficulty identifying the themes in fictional selections. Yet, the theme is the heart of a story. The author describes one tool she uses to help her students activate prior knowledge, set a purpose for reading and identify a story's themes. She uses an Anticipation Guide. This organizer guides students to reflect on carefully constructed statements that will help them link their prior knowledge and preconceived ideas to the information they will read. In addition to setting a purpose for reading, the Anticipation Guide also promotes interest and encourages higher-level thinking. Also included is a guide so that teachers can create their own Anticipation Guides.