Reading time is a special time where children can learn to grow both intellectually as well as emotionally.
Engaging a young reader during story time will not only strengthen your bond, but will also ignite a spark that may lead to your young reader becoming a life long reader.
You can start by asking these questions to promote understanding, emotional expression and critical thinking.
Before reading:
What do you think this story is about?
While reading:
What do you think is happening?
How do you feel about what happened?
Can you guess what might happen next?
After reading:
Can you explain what this book is about in your own words? Did the story differ from what you first thought the book was about? How?
What was your favorite part of the story?
Who was your favorite/least favorite character?
How did your favorite/least favorite character or part of the story make you feel?
Can you relate to this story or any of the characters? How?
What do you think about the ending? How did the ending make your feel?
What did you learn from this book?
What, if anything, would you change about this story?
You get the idea. Reading aloud to children is already beneficial, but engaging them while reading also helps them connect to the story. It drives home the book’s message and helps to foster critical thinking skills they’ll need as they become more advanced readers.