It was so great to meet and speak with many parents at Conferences last week! During our short time together, many parents asked how they can help improve their child's comprehension. One of the simplest, yet effective, activities a family can do to strengthen reading comprehension is to simply talk about the book. That's it. Try asking specific questions like, "what is the problem in the book?" and "is there anyone in the book that reminds you of someone we know?" and perhaps the most powerful question, "what do you think will happen next?" Even if family members have never read the book, a conversation can still be shared. Discussing why things are happening in the book, and predicting what's to come will go a long way in a student's understanding of what he/she is reading. Don't forget to revisit the conversation a few days later and talk about the outcomes of your predictions. Did the author surprise you with a twist ending? Were you reading the clues right all along? Having meaningful Book Talks gives students a new purpose when reading and will only help boost comprehension.
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