How to Make the Most of Reading Homework
To improve reading, students are expected to read for at least 20 minutes EVERY NIGHT. Find out Why your child should read 20 minutes every night.
Please help your child record the name of the book on the appropriate line of their Reading Log. Listen to your child tell you a little about what he/she read. Ask one or two of the following questions, or make up your own.
Before You Read
- Look at the cover of the book. Read the title.
- What do you think the book will be about?
- Where do you thing the story is going to take place?
- When is it taking place? (past, present, future)
- Who do you think the book is going to be about?
While You Read
- Read each page. Picture in your mind what is happening as you read that page.
- Look at the pictures on that page. Ask yourself:
- What is happening?
- Who is in the picture?
- Where are they?
- Think about the main character. Ask yourself:
- What is he or she like?
- Who does that character remind you of?
- What mood is that character in?
- How does he feel?
- What is he doing?
- What do you think the character will do next?
- Think about the other characters. Are they good or evil?
- What is the main problem in the chapter or story?
- How do you think the problem will be solved?
- Who is telling the story? (point of view)
- Predict what will happen next.
After You Read
- How did the character change from the beginning to the end?
- What was the main problem and how was it solved?
- Was your prediction about the book correct? Why or why not?
- How did you feel about the book?
- Why did the author write this book?
- Retell the story in your own words.
- What can you learn from this book?
- What was the story mainly about?
- If you could write the next chapter or book, what would you write?
If the book is fiction:
- Who are the main characters? Is there one you especially liked or disliked? Why?
- Where or in what time period does this story take place?
- What is the problem in the story?
- What is an important event in the story?
- How did the problem get solved? (If the story is finished)
- What was the mood of the story? Did it make you feel happy, sad, excited?
If the book is non-fiction:
- What facts do you like learning about the most? Why?
- What information would you like to share with someone else?
- Would you like to read more books about this topic? Why?
- Do you understand what the author is saying? What information is the easiest to understand or the hardest to understand?
