Wondering Before, During, and After we READ

Wondering... How do we link wondering about our world with the power of wondering before, during and after we read?

We have to make these links for our children.  So we model it.  How?  We wonder out loud as we read with our children so they will begin to do the same.

Why?  The bottom line is that it will increase a child's comprehension.  This is a good time of the year to begin to do these 3 steps with your little reader.

1. BEFORE READING...WONDER! Stop and wonder about the front cover. (This is so often is skipped!) Wonder about both the picture and the title. This leads to predicting about what is to come in the story. This engages a reader from the start. Setting the scene and anticipating what's to come!

2. DURING THE READING...WONDER! Stop after each page and wonder about how the character's are feeling and what might happen on the next page.  Wonder about the problem and how it will get solved. Wonder what you would do if you were the character. Wonder if the story will end well.

3.  AFTER THE READING...WONDER!  Stop and wonder about how the author ended the book.  Could you come up with a different ending or wonder what might happen next?

Did the author do a good job wrapping up the story?  Could you write the next part of the book together? What was the main idea?

Enjoy the beauty of wondering!