Reading
Also, see our Phonemic Awareness section under the Speech/Language tab for more information on reading skills.
We recommend that you check out this PBS Parent website regarding phonics!
READING ROCKETS
We recommend that you check out this website on the following reading topics:
How Most Children Learn to Read
Helping Struggling Readers
Reading Topics A - Z
Research Guides and Resources
PBS Shows
Children Books and Authors
ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO READ!
Here are some ways to motivate your child to read.
- Read with Family: Reading to your child is extremely helpful in developing their reading skills. Show that reading is fun by modeling your excitement to read a book. It is also beneficial for your child to read to family members, for example, younger siblings or grandparents. You can have your child use partner reads as a fun way to practice reading skills. Partner reads are having one partner read a page or two and the next partner reads a page or two. Remember to ask your child questions about the books you read with them or even when they are reading alone to work on comprehension skills.
- Go to your Local Library: Encourage your child to browse through the library to find interesting books to read. While you are at the library, ask your librarian about special events, educational videos, and audio books.
- Start a Neighborhood Book Club: This is a great way to get your child involved in reading. Get together a group of your child’s friends and find a book that they can all read together. Set-up meeting times where children can discuss their reading. As an added bonus, warm weather can inspire some fun meeting places: a tent, a park, or picnic blanket in the backyard. During the winter, set up fun places in your home, such as a blanket cave. Group reading is a valuable activity that encourages great discussions and supports critical thinking skills.
- Integrate Reading into Everyday Activities: Have your children: watch TV with the sound off and closed captioning on, read directions for how to play a new game, help with meals by writing up grocery lists, play a game of finding things in the grocery store, read a recipe aloud during cooking time, read items that they see everyday (for example, the back of the cereal box during breakfast or street signs).
Click on this website to read this article:
Reading Skills: What to Expect at Different Ages
Check out this website for reading, games, movies and books.
Free and Fun Elementary Reading Websites for Kids
Reading Developmental Stages.docx
Literature Question Prompts
(Reading Comprehension)
Questions to ASK within, about, and beyond the text
Thinking Within the Text
What was the problem in the story?
What did _____ do to solve the problem?
What happened in the story? How did the story end?
Thinking Beyond the Text
Tell me some ways ___and ___ are alike/different.
Tell me how ____ felt when ___. Why?
Why is it important for___?
How does ____ change?
What does ___ learn?
How do you think ____ felt when (or about) _____?
Why do you think _____? Can you give an example from the book?
Make a prediction about ____. How do you know something is going to happen here?
What does the writer say that makes you think that?
What is a question you still have about ____?
What lesson did ____ learn?
What was the value of ____ to _____?
Thinking About the Text
Is this a good title for this story? Why (not)?
What makes the title, ____ a good one for this book?
What did ____ learn? How do you know this?
Why do you think the writer said ____?
What did the writer mean by ______?
How did the writer help you understand _____?
How did the writer make this book interesting?
What is the significance of___?
Why do you think the writer wrote this book in 1st (or 3rd) person?
What genre did the writer use? What makes you think that?
Look at the way the writer ended the book. Do you think this is a good way to end? Why or why not?
Give an example of a description the writer used to show what ____ was like.
What was the most important part of the story and why?
Find the part in the story where _____.
What did the writer mean when s/he said _____?
What was the writer’s message?
The writer used specific words/phrases to describe _____. Can you give examples?
How did the writer let you know that something exciting was going to happen (foreshadowing)? Find examples from the text.
Look back at the text and find some powerful descriptive words. Explain what they mean.