Before, During and After Reading
When reading to your child and/or when your child is reading to you, there are specific skills you can work on before, during, and after reading.
Before – Getting your Mind Ready to Read
Read the title and look at the picture on the cover – What do you think this book could be about? Do you think this will be a make believe story or a book about real things? If possible, connect this to something your child already knows or understands.
Look at the pictures in the book – Discuss what is seen and how it could connect with the title and the previous pages in the book. If your child is reading the book to you, and you notice words that could be tricky, use these words during your conversation.
During – Minds on Reading
Asking questions as you are reading to keep your child engaged with the text:
- What is the setting of the story?
- Who are the characters?
- What do you know about them?
- How do you think the character feels?
- What makes you say that?
- What do you think is going to happen next?
After – Thinking About What Has Been Read
Using the pages provided, have a conversation with your child about the book.
The conversation could: involve a retell, include facts, opinions, information about the character, anything that your child is now wondering about...