Questioning
We have already presented two of the “keys to reading comprehension”- envisioning (making a movie in your mind as you read), and connecting with the text. The third strategy for improving reading comprehension is asking questions before, during, and after reading. This strategy increases comprehension by helping readers to think about the text, so they are more likely to remember important details and information. Successful readers generate their own questions in order to make connections, refine predictions, review important parts of the text, and evaluate the quality of what they are reading.
You can help your child with this strategy by modeling when you read together-
Before: “Is there anything you wonder about before we start reading?”
During: “What do you think that means?”
“I’m wondering about…..” - “Why do you suppose……?”
“How do you think the story will end?”
“Has your thinking changed from the beginning of the story?”
After: “What was your favorite part of the story?”
It may not be possible to answer every question, but what is most important is that you are encouraging your child to be curious, to wonder, and to think as they read.
You can help your child with this strategy by modeling when you read together-
Before: “Is there anything you wonder about before we start reading?”
During: “What do you think that means?”
“I’m wondering about…..” - “Why do you suppose……?”
“How do you think the story will end?”
“Has your thinking changed from the beginning of the story?”
After: “What was your favorite part of the story?”
It may not be possible to answer every question, but what is most important is that you are encouraging your child to be curious, to wonder, and to think as they read.