Topic: Parents and Reading: Comprehension.

10-second review: Activities parents can do with their young children at home to support learning to read: text comprehension.

Title: “Strategies for Engaging Parents in Home Support of Reading Acquisition.” Sharon Darling. Reading Teacher (February 2005), 476-479. A publication of the International Reading Association (IRA).

Activities for Parents and Children: Comprehension.

Ask the child to predict what might happen next in a story.

Ask who, what, where, when and why questions about a book.

Ask the child questions about the topic of a book before reading it.

Ask the child about books being read at school and be familiar with them in order to extend conversations.

Ask the child what the main idea or message of a book might be.

Comment: Excellent suggestions. I like the one about discussing the topic of the book before reading it. The more they know about the topic, the more they will understand what they read about it. RayS.