Try to remember to do the following when you read aloud to or with your
child:
� point out the title
� point out the author
� point out the illustrator
� read the dedication, if any
� look at the cover illustration and predict what will happen in the
story
� look at the story pictures before you read and predict what will
happen in the story
� use expression!
� let your child take the lead sometimes by letting them comment or
ask questions as you read
Change One Element
The main elements of a story are the characters, setting, problem and
solution. Try changing one of these to create a new story. For example,
after reading Little Red Riding Hood, change the wolf to a pig or an eagle.
How would the story be different? Change the story so Grandma lives in an
apartment building instead of the woods.
Create a New Story
Talk about the characters in the story. Describe them, using character
traits such as silly, kind, foolish, curious, or patient. Refer to
the "Characteristic" examples given in the "Fourth Grade Survival Guide for
Parents".
Make up a new story about the character by imagining what they might
do next. For example, after reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears, tell
what Goldilocks might do when she visits a zoo and sees the bears there.
What will happen when she goes home and tells her parents, or goes to school
and tells her classmates what happened to her? What will the bears do to
repair their damages and protect themselves from future intruders?
Rereading
Many times a child will decide that a particular story is their absolute
favorite, and ask you to �read it again.� Our advice is to do exactly what
they asked, even if it means you both know the words by heart. This can be
tedious for the parent, but the benefits to the child can be immeasurable.
Often, they will begin to notice particular words, or letters, and come to
know them well. What an easy way to increase a child�s vocabulary!
Put Yourself in the Story
Connect the story to personal knowledge. Your child is able to make
connections to the stories that you read to them because of their life
experiences. You can help them connect the storyline to real life events or
people with the use of questions like these:
� Did something like this ever happen to you?
� Do any of the characters remind you of anyone you know?
If your child can�t respond, you can make connections yourself with
statements like these:
� That character reminds me of________ because__________.
� This _________ is like ours because�.
Ask Questions
Good readers ask questions while they read. Model your own questions for
your child, and they will soon do the same. Some ways to share your
questions might be:
� I wonder why��
� What if��..
� What do you think will happen next?
� Why do you think
