Comprehension Questions to ask Your Child

Comprehension Questions

Here are some questions you can ask your child after reading. Have them show you the page that helped him/her with the answer. 

Before reading: 
• Looking at the title, cover and illustrations/pictures, what do you think will happen in this book? 
• What makes you think that? 
• What characters do you think might be in the book? 
• Do you think there will be problem in the story? Why? 
• What do you already know about the topic of this book? 
• Does the topic or story relate to you or your family? How?
• Do you think it will be like any other book you’ve read? If so, which one, and how do you think it will be similar? 

During reading:
• What has happened so far in the story? Can you tell me using sequence words? (first, then,next, after, finally, etc.) 
• What do you predict will happen next? 
• How do you think the story will end? 
• Why do you think the character did ____________? 
• What would you have done if you were the character? 
• How would you have felt if you were the character? 
• When you read, what pictures did you see in your head? How did you imagine it looked like? • What are you wondering about as you read? What questions do you have? 
• Think about the predictions you made before reading; do you still think the story will go that way? Why or why not? How do you think it will go now? 

After reading:
• Why is the title a good title for the book/story? If you had to give it a different title, what would be another good title for it? 
• Were your predictions correct? Where did you have to fix your prediction as you read? 
• If there was a problem, did it get solved? How did the character try to solve the problem?
• What happened because of the problem? 
• Did any of the characters change through the story? Who changed, and how did they change? 
• Why do you think the author wrote this? 
• What is the most important point that the author is trying to make in his/her writing? 
• What was your favorite part? Why? 
• If you could change one part, what would you change? 
• If you could ask the author a question, what would you ask? 
• Can you retell the story in sequence order (use your fingers and sequence words: first, second, then, next, etc.) 
• Is there a character in the story that reminds you of someone you know? If so, who are they   like, and why do you think that? 
• Does this book remind you of another book you know? Does it remind you of something you’ve experienced in real life?

For fun: 

Have them act out a scene from the book, draw you a picture of their favorite part to decorate the refrigerator, or write a follow-up story. They can pretend they are a book reviewer reviewing the book on TV, or they can write a letter or postcard to the author. There are many creative ways to engage students in reading and have them share their reading with you

Compiled 11/08 shmemorial.org