But reading on their own is not the only way for children to access stories. Different Ways to Readīooks are the best way to expose children to new vocabulary, stories and higher-level thinking skills. Providing answers too quickly takes away a child’s “thinking time”, robbing them of the opportunity to fo rm conclusions on their own. We typically only wait one second before jumping in with the answer. If you ask a question about the story, let them look at the pages and take a few moments to think, at least 3 seconds. You say, “Do you see the wolf licking his lips and drooling? What does it mean when you see our dog doing that? Do you think the wolf is hungry? What might the wolf be trying to do?” 3 Seconds of Wait TimeĪllow your child enough undisturbed “think time” to process what is happening. Your child says, “I don’t know….Maybe the wolf likes dressing up.” You say, “Did you see the wolf dressed up in the grandmother’s clothing? Why is the wolf doing this?” If what they tell you does not match the story, you can help redirect them back on track: Asking open-ended questions allows them to explain their thinking. When reading with your child, a great technique is to pause after a few pages and check in to see if your child is truly grasping what they are reading. Your Take – What was your favorite part?ĬLICK HERE FOR THE FIVE FINGER RETELL PRINTABLE Process It.Setting – Where did the story take place?.This technique can be used for people ages 4 to 94! Use the Five Finger StrategyĪfter reading a story, use your hand to help you remember the most important elements of the story. This makes them feel that their opinions and thoughts have value.

Instead, try to ask questions from a place of curiosity and wanting to know what your child thinks. Quizzing a child for correct answers after reading their favorite book can suck the joy out of the reading experience.

Keep it LightĬonversations about books should be fun. Asking simple questions about the characters and talking about best parts of a book get your child thinking about the story and making connections to their own life. Reading at home for enjoyment is the best and easiest daily routine you can do to help strengthen your child’s understanding of stories.

Kindergarten reading activity