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Help Your Child Get The Most Out of Their Reading

6/30/2017

7 Comments

 
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Previously I shared that having your child read over summer break is vital to maintaining their aptitude level. Unfortunately reading is not the same as understanding; and too often the emphasis is placed on getting through as many books as possible, which can result in merely skimming them without the benefits of expanding vocabulary or focusing on correct spelling, grammar and sentence structure.

Furthermore, cognitive science and learning research shows that “deep learning” requires gaining new information that can be connected to our own lives, which means reading comprehension is a must.

The best tool for developing this important skill is through the use of a Reflective Response Journal, which can be in the form of a composition book, legal pad, spiral notebook, or a computer document. The purpose of the journal is to foster an active, rather than passive, reader; and this exercise can be scaled to suit the age and reading level of your child.

The reflection exercise consists of responding to questions that prompt your child to explore his or her impressions and develop genuine thoughts and opinions. In other words, it serves to build valuable metacognitive skills. Therefore, entries go beyond superficial book reports, which only regurgitate the plot of the story.
Ideally, the journal entries should consist of well-formed and thoughtful responses to the types of questions listed below.
​

First Impressions
  • Why did I decide to read this book?
  • What was one of the first things I noticed about the story?
  • Who is telling the story, and how do I know this?
  • Is there anything noticeably unique about the author’s style of writing?
Setting
  • In what time period does the story take place, and how do I know this?
  • What events do I know about that took place around the same time period?
  • Where does the story take place and how do I know this?
  • What places have I been that are similar to the setting of the book?
  • What things do I recall happening in that similar place?
Characters
  • Who are the main characters, and what are my opinions about them?
  • Who is the most important character in the book, and how do I know this?
  • Which characters remind me of ones from another book I have read, and what similarities do they share?
  • Which characters remind me of people I know or have known in my life, and what similarities do they share?
  • Who is my favorite character so far and why?
(The next three sets of questions could be answered between chapters or before putting the book down for a break.)
Feelings
  • What am I enjoying about the book so far and why?
  • What is bothering me about the book so far and why?
  • How does the story make me feel overall?
  • What do I think about what is happening in the story right now?
  • What does the book makes me wonder about?
  • In what ways does the book relate to me and my life so far?
What Is Surprising
  • Did I learn something new that conflicts with my previous belief about that topic?
  • Did I learn something fascinating that I didn’t expect?
Things I Have Noticed
  • What is the mood of the story, and what events does the author introduce to create it?
  • What are some ways the author creates suspense?
  • What do I think is going to happen next?
  • What clues does the author give about how the story might end?
Final Thoughts
  • What is my impression about the ending, and is it different from what I expected?
  • How would I have ended the story?
  • How would I describe this book to someone and why?
  • What would I ask or say to the author if we were to meet?

An added benefit of the journal is that it can also be used to correct spelling, grammar and sentence structure errors and develop effective writing skills.

So, get your child started with using a Reflective Response Journal for each book they read, and watch them blossom into more thoughtful and engaged readers!


7 Comments
Rosemerry link
8/21/2017 08:45:47 am

This a great way to get children to have authentic interactions with books. True learning takes place as they comprehend and reflect on what they read. Children can add drawings to their journals. This is awesome. Thanks for the post.

Reply
Randy
8/21/2017 09:42:59 am

You're welcome Rosemerry! Yes, they can certainly add drawings to their entries. It only makes the entry better!

Reply
Suzanne Davis link
8/21/2017 09:01:29 am

I love these questions for a reflective journal. This is such a great resource for parents and teachers who want to add variety to reflective journal questions. And it's great for getting readers to focus on different elements of what they read.

Reply
Randy
8/21/2017 09:48:01 am

Thank you Suzanne! I taught 4th grade for 11 years, and this was a part of their Language Arts. There is a great book named 7 Keys to Comprehension by Susan Zimmerman. I taught the 7 Keys (we focused on one per week) until they had learned them all. Then they were responsible for applying what they learned to their reading. It took some time, but all of the students were no longer "decoding" and "scratching the surface". They were getting much more from everything they read.

Reply
Matthew Huseby link
8/21/2017 09:22:31 am

Great post, and great list of ideas to help our students reflect on what they are reading! I'm going to use some of these reflective questions with my own students. Helping our students understand a reading at a deeper level is so beneficial.

Reply
Randy
8/21/2017 09:54:51 am

I agree Matthew. So many kids don't realize how much more there is to reading than just knowing basics (main character, where the story takes place, etc.). I hope your students are open to using the reflective response questions. My students had Reflective Response Journals. My reading program was a Book Club format. Students were put into groups of no more than 5 (I typically had no more than 18 students). Each month, the book they had to read was a different genre. A specific number of pages of reading were assigned each week, and Book Club discussions took place each Wednesday during Language Arts time. I was not a part of the Book Club discussion. All student driven. I only intervened if they got off track or someone was not contributing. Good luck, and let me know how your students like it!

Reply
Stena Schmitt link
8/21/2017 09:33:09 pm

I love this post. I have had lots of students who are able to decode their reading but don't understand a word of it. The sad part about it is they don't realize it until the end of the chapter or book.

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