Family Book Talks

When reading at home:

• Begin books by looking closely at them. Notice the cover illustrations, the author, and the illustrator. Are there any clues as to what the book will be about? Does the back of the book have any information to give the reader?

• Take a picture walk through SOME of the pages. Discuss what you both think might happen.

• Stop every once in awhile to ask your child to retell the story. They should have a picture of what is happening in the story in their mind. If it is not clear that your child is understanding the story, just back track and talk more about the story together as the story unfolds.

• Stop every so often and ask your child to predict what might happen next. Make sure they have a reason for their thinking. ( Not just, "I think Goldilocks will like the little bed." But, " I think Goldilocks will like the little bear's bed because she is little too, and she liked his porridge and his chair."

• Encourage your child to ask questions while you read.

• After reading, stop and have a conversation about what you both liked/disliked? Did it remind them of another book they have read? Has something in the story ever happened to them?

When we read with children we work to co-create understandings of texts and how they relate to our world.

Discussion starters for shared reading.

Fiction

• Do you like books by this author?

• What do you like about this book genre?

• What has happened so far?

• Can you make connections between this book and yourself?

• Pick a main character from the story. Who do they remind you of in your life? Why?

• How do feel about what is happening to the main character in the story?

• Did the characters' emotions change during the story? Why?

• What question/s would you ask the main character if you could?

• If you could rewrite the end of the story, how would it change?

Non-fiction

• Why did you choose this topic?

• What do you want to learn about this topic?

• What did you already know about the topic before reading? What new things did you learn?

• Is there a question you had while reading that is still not answered? If so, what was it?

• What was the most interesting fact from the text?

• Did you learn something new from reading this text? If so what was it?

Reading aloud shows us we're not so different from others after all. Tweens and teens spend a lot of time feeling they aren't like other people. They feel lonely, like they don't fit in or belong. A well-written book can span the gap between these perceptions and the reality, through apt descriptions of the human condition. When parent and child read a book like this together, it brings them closer, and brings understanding of each other and the world. This helps to ease that sense of loneliness so often experienced by the older child.

Discussion starters for shared reading.

Fiction

• Why did you choose this genre?

• Would you like to live where the story takes place? Why or why not?

• Why did the author choose this setting?

• What judgments can you make about a character or event in the text? Explain your judgments.

• How do you feel about the main character? Why?

• Does something in this book remind you of something in your life? How does that help you understand the character or their actions?

• What was the message the author wanted to share?

• Do you know another story that deals with the same issues ( e.g. social, cultural, moral)?

• How did the author make the story enjoyable?

• What connections can you make between the events/message in the book and the world today?

Non-fiction

• What do you already think you know about this topic?

• As you gather new information, how have your predictions changed?

• After reading the text, what are the larger ideas you have taken away?

• What qualifications does the author have to write an informational text?