Questions Parents Can Ask While Listening to Their Child Read

Decoding & Word Reading

• Can you sound out that tricky word?

• Does it look like another word you know?

• Can you break that word into smaller parts (syllables, prefixes, suffixes)?

Vocabulary

• What does that word mean?

• Can you think of another word that means the same thing?

• Have you heard or seen this word before? Where?

Fluency

• Did that sentence sound smooth when you read it?

• Can you try reading it again with expression, like the character would say it?

• How would you read that if it was a question or an exclamation?

Comprehension – Understanding the Text

• What just happened in the story?

• Can you tell me the main idea in your own words?

• What do you think will happen next? Why?

• Why do you think the character did that?

• How do you think the character is feeling right now? What clues tell you that?

Comprehension – Making Connections

• Does this story remind you of something in your own life?

• Have you read another book that’s similar to this one?

• What would you have done if you were the character?

Critical Thinking

• What lesson do you think the author wants us to learn?

• Do you agree with what the character did? Why or why not?

• If you could change one part of the story, what would it be?