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40 Reading Comprehension Questions to Ask Kids

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As my six-year-old races through 1st grade, I find myself seeking ways to guide his development of reading comprehension. I am a Reading Parent for his classroom.

His teacher supplied me with valuable information to assist me in speaking with the children about the stories and content we’re sharing each week. I took her guidance and added to it where I felt I could and believed adding more meat was necessary.

I have many authentic AMS language lessons archived for your reference. I also have loads of Montessori language materials available for download in my Teachers Pay Teachers store. Don’t miss all the freebies!

reading comprehension tips

Reading Comprehension – How to Talk with Kids about Fiction

Reading Comprehension – Setting

  • Describe the scene(s) of the story
  • At what point in the day/week/year is the story?
  • Did this story happen in the past or present?

Reading Comprehension – Characters

  • Name the main characters in the story.
  • What words does the author use to describe the main characters?
  • Who is the most important? Why?
  • Which character can you describe to me?
  • Which character do you enjoy learning about?
  • Do any of the characters have a special friendship or relationship?
  • Describe the appearance of the main characters
  • Describe the personality of the main characters

Reading Comprehension – Plot

  • Is there a problem to be solved?
  • How might the problem be solved?
  • How was the problem solved?
  • Would you have solved the problem differently?
  • What were the main points of the story?

A young boy reading a book in bed

Reading Comprehension – Narrator/Perspective

  • Who told the story?
  • Is it the author? Is it a character?
  • How do you know who is telling the story?
  • Why do you think this character told the story?

Reading Comprehension – Mood

  • What do you feel when you read this story?
  • How do you think the characters feel?
  • Is there a happy character? a sad character? a frustrated character? an angry character? a worried character?
  • How can you tell? Which words does the author use to tell you how the character feels?
  • Did your feelings change as you read the story? At which point?

Reading Comprehension – Theme

  • What is the story about?
  • How did the author show us the story was about courage/friendship/sadness/etc.?

A young boy smiling reading a book

Reading Comprehension – Genre

  • Do you think this story happened?
  • What makes you believe it could have happened?
  • How do you know the story is fiction?
  • How can you tell that the story isn’t non-fiction?

Reading Comprehension – Style

  • What type of language does the author use?
  • Does the author use soft words? Give an example.
  • Does the author use strong words? Give an example.
  • Which parts of the story are most memorable?

Reading Comprehension – Simile

  • How does the author describe a character or place?
  • Does the author compare the character or the place to anything?

Reading Comprehension – Metaphor

  • What did the author compare the character or place too?

Reading Comprehension – Personification

  • What was the author trying to tell us about the character or the place?
  • How can you tell? Which words or phrases did the author use to get this point across to the reader?

Our favorite read-aloud chapter books are The Magic Treehouse series, the Droon Series, Boxcar Children, and My Father’s Dragon Tales.

Marnie

P.S. You  might be interested in this post: 25+ Exciting & Thoughtful Questions to Ask Kids EVERY Day

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