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What kind of questions do you ask your kids when reading?


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Usually nonfiction is divided into topical segments.  When we're reading together, I just stop at the end of each segment and say, "What did you learn here?"  If they struggle to tell me, I ask more specific questions: "What did you learn about how sound is produced?  How is it that we actually hear sounds?" and then circle back to asking them for a summary.  If what we're reading is not broken into short topical segments, I stop after a page or so and ask for their thoughts.  I try to gauge how much they can reasonably process at a time; taking a break to summarize seems to allow them to think it through and save it in a bite-size way so they can turn their minds to the next portion of information.  (This technique works for projects and experiments, too.  If you do an experiment or demonstration--without explaining in advance--you can ask the kids to interpret what they're seeing.  They get all excited to make the discoveries on their own.)

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"Tell me about it"

 

What are three things that you learned? (especially with non-fiction where there's not a story line)

 

Then I can drag details out about the individual things that they learned with questions like "Ooo...how does that work?"

 

What part did you like the best?

 

Did you learn anything new?

 

Did anything surprise you?

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Who?

What?

Where?

When?

Why?

How?

 

These simple questions can be adapted to any type of material.

 

Also:

Are you listening to me?

 

In all seriousness, sometimes reading in shorter chunks first and summarizing those chunks can also be helpful. Start short, then gradually move to longer selections.

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I like all the previous poster's questions! :)

 

 

From SWB's handout on "What is Literary Analysis and When to Teach It?":

 

For a biography:
What kind of family did the subject come from?
What were his parents like?
Where did he go to school?
What did he want the most as a child?
What did he want the most as a grownup?
Were they the same?
How did he get what he wanted?
Who were the three most important people in his life?
Did he get married? To whom? When?
Did they have children?
What was the most important event in his life?
Name three other important events in his life.
Did he get what he wanted in life? Why or why not?
Why do we still remember this person?

 

 

From Wildwood School, 2nd Grade Non Fiction Discussion Questions

 

What is the selection you read MOSTLY about?

What did you find interesting about this selection?

What was the most interesting word that you read in this selection?

What are the MOST important ideas in the text? How do you know?

Why did the author write this story? What did he/she want you to learn?

Tell someone a summary of what you read.

Did you learn anything new? If so, what?

How and where could you find out more information about the topic you read about?

What else do you still WANT TO KNOW about your topic?

Were there any text features that helped you better understand your reading? 

Text features are: italics, bold print, drawings, photographs, Maps, captions, headings, diagrams, index, glossary, Table of Contents, a time line, colored print, fact box, bullets. 

What were they and how did they help you?

 

 

From Moodle:

 

Making Connections:

  • What do you already know about this topic?
  • How does this book remind you of other texts you have read?
  • What have you experienced in your life that helps you understand this topic?
  • What useful information does this text provide?
  • What is your interest in this topic?
  • How does this information fit with what you already know?

 

Content:

  • Why is this topic important in science?
  • What perspective does the author take on this topic?
  • What are some of the most important words related to science and what do they mean?
  • Were there parts of the book you didn’t understand?  What puzzled you? What questions do you still have about this topic?
  • What did you learn about this topic?
  • What do you want to learn more about?                                          

 

Accuracy and Authenticity:

  • How up to date is this information?
  • Is there evidence provided to support what the author says?
  • Are the pictures authentic?  Do they look real?
  • Are the facts and information consistent with other sources?
  • Is any important information missing?
  • Does the author show the difference between fact and opinion?       
  • Is there any information that could be misleading?

 

Text Structure and Organization:

  • What are the ways the author presents information on this topic?
  • How is this information organized?

 

Text Features:

  • What does the title tell you about this book?
  • How do the headings and subheadings help you find information?
  • What information is found in pictures, diagrams, maps, charts, etc.?
  • How does table on contents (index, glossary, bibliography, etc.) help you?
  • What information did you get from labels, legends, and captions?
  • Are these text features easy to use? How did they help you get information?
  • How does the format of the text help you to understand the topic better?

 

Author:

  • Who is the author of this book?
  • How does the author use experiences and knowledge to do a good job giving us information?
  • How does the author feel about this topic?  What is the author’s perspective?
  • What has the author said to make you question the accuracy of the information?
  • Would you want to read other books by this author? Why 
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