Comprehension Strategies - After Reading

This is the last post in our series of Comprehension Strategies.  If you want to read them in order, try these first:

Why Read Aloud to Children?

Before Reading Strategies

During Reading Strategies

We know that in order for children to understand a story well, they have to start thinking about it before reading.  They might look at the pictures and make a prediction.  Then, while we read we can involve the children by encouraging them to move and read with us.  Now that the book is finished, there are other things we can do to reinforce the story and extend the students' understanding.

Lots of stories lend themselves to "Acting it Out."  After reading The Three Billy Goats Gruff recently, my students decided to play "billy goats."  They lined up stools to make a bridge and took turns TRIP-TRAPPING across it.  We also added goats to our block center for students who wanted to build a bridge there.

Another important elementary school comprehension skill is "Making Connections."  Students are asked to make a connection in one of three ways:

TEXT to SELF

Does this book remind you of something that happened to you?

TEXT to TEXT

Does this book remind you of another book?

TEXT to WORLD

Does this book remind you of something that you know about in the world (another place, a movie, a person you know, etc.)?

When we read a story to young children, we can encourage them to compare the story to something else that they know about.  After reading Corduroy, students might tell about their favorite stuffed animal.  They can compare Lisa's love of Corduroy to their own.

What do you like to do after reading a story to your children to make sure that they understand it?

Have fun reading, playing and learning together today.