Literacy Tip

Comprehension Strategy - “Active Listening ”

The first part of every YES Reading session is devoted to the Read Aloud. Many students enjoy this time so much that it might easy to think that the students are not learning anything. The read aloud is indeed very important (see other literacy strategies to learn more about the read aloud). Here are a four ways to further engage your student as a more active participant, and will stimulate the different learning styles after the read aloud.

1. You can suggest a verbal response by asking questions on what he thought about the story (e.g., “What did you think?” “Why did you think that was going to happen?” “Why do you think the character behaved that way?” “Do you know anyone like ___? How is he/she alike or different from the character in the story?”).
2. You can also have the student close his eyes and listen while you read. Tell your student that you’ll be narrating a story and he’ll have to make a movie in his head based on what you are reading. After reading, have your student draw a picture of one scene and discuss it, prompting a visual response.
3. A third type of response can be a written response. You can have your student write a short summary, or provide prompts (e.g. Write about how the character or situation in the book connects with your life, write about how the character changes throughout the story, write about how this story is similar to another story you’ve read).  
4. Lastly, you can try a physical response. As you are reading, have the student act out parts of the story or demonstrate the characters’ feelings.

Good Luck!

Click here to see more literacy strategies.

Back to Newsletter, June 2008