Tips for Parents
Tips for Reading with your Child
Tips for Reading with your Child
Choose a few questions to discuss when reading with your student.
Choose a few questions to discuss when reading with your student.
Before Reading
Before Reading
Read the title and ask, “What do you think will happen in this story?”
Read the title and ask, “What do you think will happen in this story?”
Take a picture walk through the book. As you look at each picture, ask, “What is happening in this picture?”
Take a picture walk through the book. As you look at each picture, ask, “What is happening in this picture?”
During Reading
During Reading
If your child reads something incorrectly, stop them. Restate what they said incorrectly and then ask, “Does that make sense?” or “Does that sound right?” We have to think about what we’re reading while we read.
If your child reads something incorrectly, stop them. Restate what they said incorrectly and then ask, “Does that make sense?” or “Does that sound right?” We have to think about what we’re reading while we read.
Ask questions that start with who, what, when, where, why, and how. If your child does not respond correctly, explain the question. (For example: “I think you need to answer with a person, because I asked a ‘who’ question.”)
Ask questions that start with who, what, when, where, why, and how. If your child does not respond correctly, explain the question. (For example: “I think you need to answer with a person, because I asked a ‘who’ question.”)
After a few pages, ask, “What do you think will happen next?”
After a few pages, ask, “What do you think will happen next?”
Think out loud to your child. Ask questions such as, “I wonder why the girl is crying in the picture? Will she find her lost toy?” This demonstrates that reading and comprehension are an active process. We must think while we read!
Think out loud to your child. Ask questions such as, “I wonder why the girl is crying in the picture? Will she find her lost toy?” This demonstrates that reading and comprehension are an active process. We must think while we read!
After Reading
After Reading
Ask questions relating to story elements – character, setting, problem, and solution. (For example: “Who are the characters?” “What is the setting?” “How did the characters solve the problem?”) If your child does not know, show them the picture or reread the page where the answer can be found. When your child answers, ask him/her to tell you how they knew the answer. Say “Can you show me the part of the book that helped you know the answer?”
Ask questions relating to story elements – character, setting, problem, and solution. (For example: “Who are the characters?” “What is the setting?” “How did the characters solve the problem?”) If your child does not know, show them the picture or reread the page where the answer can be found. When your child answers, ask him/her to tell you how they knew the answer. Say “Can you show me the part of the book that helped you know the answer?”
Ask, “What was your favorite part? Show me. Why do you like that part?”
Ask, “What was your favorite part? Show me. Why do you like that part?”
Ask questions about character traits. (For example: “Which character do you think was kind? Which character was bossy? How do you know?”)
Ask questions about character traits. (For example: “Which character do you think was kind? Which character was bossy? How do you know?”)
Encourage deeper thinking by asking, “If the story kept going, what do you think would happen next?”
Encourage deeper thinking by asking, “If the story kept going, what do you think would happen next?”
Help your child make connections as he/she reads to life experiences. You could say, “Is there anything you read that reminds you of something? The boy in the story reminded me of you because he’s 7 years old, too.”
Help your child make connections as he/she reads to life experiences. You could say, “Is there anything you read that reminds you of something? The boy in the story reminded me of you because he’s 7 years old, too.”
Discuss the main idea of the story. Ask, “What was the story mostly about?”
Discuss the main idea of the story. Ask, “What was the story mostly about?”
Ask your child to retell the story to you without using the book. Discuss the main events that happened in the beginning, middle and end of the story.
Ask your child to retell the story to you without using the book. Discuss the main events that happened in the beginning, middle and end of the story.
Look for cause and effect examples. Ask, “What caused that to happen?”
Look for cause and effect examples. Ask, “What caused that to happen?”