Comprehension
An important factor from this stage is comprehension. With early books, understanding what has been read, is rarely a problem.
Comprehension is a complex subject
There are so many possible questions one could ask so it’s important not to overdo it. Questions will come up as you read. A child can read a book and not grasp every detail of the story and still enjoy it and gain something from it. Also, when a child gets more into a story, they will understand more!
Useful questions to ask
- So, what has just happened?
- Help the child to visualise – I see …..
- Why did x do y? You may want to accept the child’s first answer even if it’s not quite right and see if things become clearer as the book progresses.
- The child asks you a question. This can lead to further questions and discussion.
- What kind of person is Y? What are their good characteristics? Their weaknesses?
- What makes you say that?
- What may happen next?
- What does x word mean? E.g. ‘flimsy’.
General knowledge is always useful to draw on, especially history and geography. If there is any important background, explain it or link it to something the child knows about.
Be aware of figurative language – ‘the boy was yellow’ may need explaining that this is a way to say someone is scared.
Some people like to read the blurb on the back of a book first.
Ask inferential questions. So, the answer isn’t directly given, just implied. A very simple example: ‘His t-shirt was soaked when he arrived home. What could the weather have been like that day?’ Or can we deduce what a gift is going to be, from what’s happened so far in the story.
At the end of the book, possibly ask if the author is trying to say something with the story. Was he or she trying to send a message?
You get the idea. Don’t over-do it as it could spoil the enjoyment and show a lack of faith in your child!