Let's Talk While We Read

I found this post at: http://www.jdaniel4smom.com/2010/09/lets-talk-while-we-read.html?m=1. I hope you find the ideas below helpful when talking to your littlest readers but please note that many of the ideas listed below would also work well for your biggest readers, too!

Ways to Work on Narrative Skills

Birth to 2- Years Old

• Talk about what you are doing. My son asks me all the time, “What are you doing.” Sometimes I am just driving the car.
• Tell your child stories and make up silly songs.
• Encourage your toddler to tell you about things.
• Listen patiently and ask questions. Reread favorite books over and over again

2 to 3 years old

• Have them tell you about their day
• Talk about what is happening first, next, and last in a story.
• Have them read you their favorite book.

4 to 5 years old

• Ask questions like “What do you think is happening in this picture?” and “What might happen next?”
• Add adjectives to words your child says. If he says, “ Dump truck”, say “yellow John Deer dump truck.”
• Have your child tell you what is happening in a picture they have drawn.

How do we do this at our house?

• It is mostly natural part of reading.  We chat about the pictures and story as we read.
• We try not to break the flow or rhythm of the story. It may mean reading the story and than going back and asking questions if asking them during the story will keep JDaniel from enjoying the book.
• We keep favorite books out where we will encounter them and can talk about them.
• We don't do it every time we read a book.