I learned to read in church. No, my Sunday School teachers didn’t have flash cards or have me sound out words. But each of my Sunday School teachers asked me this question: What is the story really about?
I learned that a simple story like Noah’s ark might really be about keeping promises and finding blessing in obedience. I learned to decipher parables, carefully analyze every word in a verse, and visualize proverbs. Good readers use those same skills when confronted with novels, short stories, and poems. If you look for what a story is really about, you’ll quickly discover that most picture books are as suitable for adults as for young children. Good readers find meaning in any story they read.You can help your child become a better reader by doing the same at home. Students need guidance to think more deeply about texts.When your child finishes a book or chapter at home, try asking them some of these questions:
- Can you show me words on the page that tell you how the character is feeling?
- Who wants what?
- How do the characters struggle to get what they want?
- What is important to the character(s)?
- What are the internal/external traits of the character?
- How do others view the character?
- What objects or things are important to the character? Why?
- Why did the character act this way?
- Was it right or wrong for the character to act this way? Why?
- What did the character get from acting this way?
- How am I like or unlike the character?
- What lesson did the character learn? (Note: The lesson the character learns is the lesson that the author wants the reader to learn)
GoBe Learning 