It's that time of year again & many parents ask me "How can I help my child become a better reader?" Here is a great list of thoughtful questions you can ask your child. Engaging them in a conversation about their book or reading material, will help make what they are reading come to life, spark their curiosity & build their vocabulary.

1. "What is this story about?"
2. "What does the main character want?"
3. "Will she get it?" "If so, how?"

Even after reading, engaged readers still ask questions:

1. "What is the meaning of what I have read?"
2. "Why did the author end the paragraph (or chapter, or book) in this way?"
3. "What was the author's purpose in writing this?"

As students become comfortable with the questioning strategy, they may use the guide independently while reading, with the goal of generating questions before, during, and after reading to increase comprehension.