Today is rung 5 of 5 on this topic
Understanding a story that's read to them
Can do: Answers who / where / what happened, and predicts what might come next.
Why it matters
Their listening comprehension is running years ahead of their reading, and it is where vocabulary and thinking actually grow. Read them books far above their decoding level.
What it looks like when it's wobbly
Can retell events but goes blank on "why did he do that?", or predicts things the story has given no evidence for.
⏱️ Two-minute check
Stop halfway through a new book: "What do you think happens next? Why do you think that?"
Solid looks like: A prediction plus a reason tied to something that has actually happened in the story.
The full activity for this topic · 10 minutes
Stop and Wonder
- 1Before reading, look at the cover: "What do you think this is about?"
- 2Stop twice while reading — not more — and ask what might happen next.
- 3After a surprise, ask "were you right?" Being wrong is fine and worth saying so.
- 4At the end ask one why question about a character's feelings.
- 5Wonder aloud yourself: "I wonder why she didn't tell anyone." Modelling beats questioning.
If it's too hard
Ask about the picture in front of you rather than the whole story.
If it's too easy
Ask them to compare: "How is this bear different from the bear in the other book?"
Say this
"What makes you think that? Show me the bit in the picture."