Reading to your child regularly is a fun and valuable activity for developing listening, speaking and comprehension skills. Books provide many opportunities to engage children in discussions that will help them to practice what they’re learning at school, and it won’t even seem like homework. I’ve put together a list of a few conversation starters that might help you and your child talk about a book you've read. You’ll want to pick and choose the questions because they won’t all work with all books. The goal is to get kids talking in long sentences and including parts of the story to prove their answers.
1. Why does the title make sense? (Explain by giving details from the story.) “The titles makes sense because……..”
2. Who is the main character in this story? “The main character is……. because…….”
3. What did you like about the story? “The thing I like best about the story is…….” (Give details from the story to explain.)
4. Does the story remind you of anything in your life? “The story reminds me of ……… because…….”
5. What is the problem in the story? (Explain completely)
6. How is the problem solved? (Explain completely)
7. What is the setting of the story (Where did it take place?)
8. Does it remind you of any other books you have read? (Compare the two books.)
9. Is this a non-fiction (real) or fiction book? (Give reasons)
11. What word would you use to describe the main character? (Kind, bossy, helpful, honest, lazy, etc. – Be sure to give examples from the story.
Another really valuable activity is to have kids retell the story in their own words.
1. Why does the title make sense? (Explain by giving details from the story.) “The titles makes sense because……..”
2. Who is the main character in this story? “The main character is……. because…….”
3. What did you like about the story? “The thing I like best about the story is…….” (Give details from the story to explain.)
4. Does the story remind you of anything in your life? “The story reminds me of ……… because…….”
5. What is the problem in the story? (Explain completely)
6. How is the problem solved? (Explain completely)
7. What is the setting of the story (Where did it take place?)
8. Does it remind you of any other books you have read? (Compare the two books.)
9. Is this a non-fiction (real) or fiction book? (Give reasons)
11. What word would you use to describe the main character? (Kind, bossy, helpful, honest, lazy, etc. – Be sure to give examples from the story.
Another really valuable activity is to have kids retell the story in their own words.
- Include all the important parts.
- Can include a few details, but not too many.
- Use your own words. (Don’t try to memorize the story.)