Here is a list of some general questions you can use with your children when reading a book together.
INFERRING
(for a narrative text) Can you predict what is about to happen next? Why did you make that prediction? Can you point to something in the book that helped you to make that prediction? OR What do you already know that helped you make that prediction?
Why did (the character) do that?
What did the author mean by ____________________?
(Character name) must be feeling ____________. Are there clues that help us to know that?
What’s going to happen next?
What must have taken place before _______________? Is there evidence in the story that helps you to know that?
What do you think that (character) meant by __________? … felt about __________? … thought about ______________? … will do about ________?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
SUMMARIZING
In general, what is this story about?
What is the problem to be solved in this story? Is there a solution?
What has happened so far?
Who did what? What makes you think so?
What do you wonder about after reading so far?
What is the most important point in this story or passage?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
SYNTHESIZING
Is there anything you understand in a new way from reading this story?
What ideas (or concepts, of feelings) are most interesting to you? Why?
Does (a historical event or personal experience) make more sense after reading this?
What is something that you understand better after reading this?
What is confusing about this story or event?
What picture comes to your mind when thinking about how (character) ________?
What are the reasons that _______________happened?
Does this book make you think of anything that has happened to you?
Does this story remind you of anything else you have read?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
ANALYZING
What things would make everyone like this book?
Describe the writing style of this author.
The author makes you feel as if you were there by _____________.
What are some examples of rich, colorful, or great language that makes
this a good passage to read?
What are the critical points in the plot? How does the story unfold?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
CRITIQUING
Would people in your life act this way?
What is unbelievable about this text?
Should other kids read this? Why or why not?
What makes this (book, story, biography) authentic or real?
What important information is missing?
What would have made this story more interesting to read?
What parts of the story show the attitude of the author?
What are the words or phrases that you really liked? That made you
feel?
INFERRING
(for a narrative text) Can you predict what is about to happen next? Why did you make that prediction? Can you point to something in the book that helped you to make that prediction? OR What do you already know that helped you make that prediction?
Why did (the character) do that?
What did the author mean by ____________________?
(Character name) must be feeling ____________. Are there clues that help us to know that?
What’s going to happen next?
What must have taken place before _______________? Is there evidence in the story that helps you to know that?
What do you think that (character) meant by __________? … felt about __________? … thought about ______________? … will do about ________?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
SUMMARIZING
In general, what is this story about?
What is the problem to be solved in this story? Is there a solution?
What has happened so far?
Who did what? What makes you think so?
What do you wonder about after reading so far?
What is the most important point in this story or passage?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
SYNTHESIZING
Is there anything you understand in a new way from reading this story?
What ideas (or concepts, of feelings) are most interesting to you? Why?
Does (a historical event or personal experience) make more sense after reading this?
What is something that you understand better after reading this?
What is confusing about this story or event?
What picture comes to your mind when thinking about how (character) ________?
What are the reasons that _______________happened?
Does this book make you think of anything that has happened to you?
Does this story remind you of anything else you have read?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
ANALYZING
What things would make everyone like this book?
Describe the writing style of this author.
The author makes you feel as if you were there by _____________.
What are some examples of rich, colorful, or great language that makes
this a good passage to read?
What are the critical points in the plot? How does the story unfold?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
CRITIQUING
Would people in your life act this way?
What is unbelievable about this text?
Should other kids read this? Why or why not?
What makes this (book, story, biography) authentic or real?
What important information is missing?
What would have made this story more interesting to read?
What parts of the story show the attitude of the author?
What are the words or phrases that you really liked? That made you
feel?