Raising an Active Reader

Raising an Active Reader makes clear for parents and teachers of children grade K–3 the process of learning to read and what adults can do to encourage robust language, comprehension, and vocabulary in their children. It provides fun examples, clear explanations, and ideas for read aloud sessions that will build a lifelong love of reading.

Samantha Cleaver

Table of Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Active Reading: Preparing Your Child for Reading Success What is Active Reading? The Case for Read Aloud when Kids can Read on Their Own Ready to Read with Me More Chapter 1: Keep Reading with Me Active Reading in the Early Elementary Years Elementary School-Aged Children Learn (A Lot) from Picture Books Active Reading: Evidence-Based Bedtime Reading Raising Active Readers ABCs of Active Reading with Elementary Schoolers A: Ask Questions B: Build Vocabulary C: Make Connections Keep Reading with Me What to Remember Chapter 2: I Can Read on my Own! What is Reading? Reading and your Elementary-Schooler The Big 5: What it Takes to Read Phonemic Awareness Phonics Fluency Vocabulary Comprehension Language: The Foundation for Reading Active Reading and the Home-School Connection How do Parents Contribute to Reading Success? More Ways to Help Your Child with Reading at Home Let's Read! What to Remember Chapter 3: Books, Books, Books: Building a Library for a Growing Reader Active Reading Wide and Deep Your Child's Reading "Diet" Illustrated Chapter Books Myths, Fairy Tales, and Folk Tales Your Favorites Your Child's Perfect Fit Poetry Nonfiction Books that are Beyond Their Years The Latest, Greatest Books Windows and Mirrors: Cultivating Diversity and Empathy through Books Books as Windows Books as Mirrors Books They Read On Their Own Leveled Readers My First Chapter Books Tree Books vs. E-Books Books Matter What to Remember Chapter 4: Ask Questions The Importance of Conversation Why do we Ask Questions? Asking Questions about Stories Story Questions Using Questions to Help Children Understand Difficult Texts 1. What Does the Text Say? 2. How Does the Text Work? 3. What Does the Text Mean? 4. What Does the Text Inspire You to Do? Thinking Critically about Stories How do Children Develop Critical Thinking? How to Raise a Critical Thinker Get Kids to Ask Questions Tell Me More What to Remember Chapter 5: Build Vocabulary Vocabulary is Important, Imperative, and Significant How Children Learn Words Finding Words: The Power of Books Rare Words Academic Words Understanding Phrases Choosing Words during Active Reading Building Your Child's Vocabulary through Active Reading Becoming Word Learners: Developing Word Consciousness Words, Words, Words What to Remember Chapter 6: Make Connections to the Child's World: Fiction Making Inferences: Connecting Old and New Information Cause-and-Effect Inferences Relationship Inferences How Do You Know? Helping Children Make Inferences Making Predictions Remember to Circle Back What if My Child's Prediction Makes No Sense? Connecting with Stories to Learn about the World Using Fiction to Help Children Connect to Tough Topics Connect to Your Child's World Chapter 7:Making Connections to Nonfiction Text Nonfiction and 3rd Grade Reading The Challenge of Reading Nonfiction Background Knowledge Text Structure Academic Vocabulary Background Knowledge: The Backbone for Understanding Nonfiction Build Background Knowledge: Read Wide and Deep How to Encourage Wide and Deep Reading Talk about Nonfiction Book Structure Text Features Applying the ABCs of Active Reading to Nonfiction Getting Started: Book Walks Ask Questions about Nonfiction Before Reading During Reading After Reading Building Vocabulary with Nonfiction Make Connections to Nonfiction Connect with Nonfiction Text What to Remember Chapter 8: Active Reading with Chapter Books and Novels What Makes Chapter Books and Novels Special? Choosing Chapter Books and Novels to Read Together Choosing Chapter Books for Your Child to Read On Their Own The ABCs of Active Reading Chapter Books and Novels Ask Questions Story Grammar Questions Visualizing What We Read Build Vocabulary Make Connections Make Connections with Background Knowledge Make Connections From Scene to Scene Make Connections with Characters, Events, and Feelings Raising a Novel Reader Active Reading with Longer Stories What to Remember Chapter 9: Active Reading and the Struggling Reader How Kids Struggle with Reading Word Reading Fluency Comprehension What Kids Who Struggle with Reading Need in Grades K-2 Perfect Practice Build Stamina When Children Struggle to Make Inferences Model How to Visualize Reread Important Sections Work at the Sentence Level Build a Bridge Use Wordless Picture Books Active Reading with Struggling Readers More Ways to Support a Child Who Struggles with Reading Raising Active Readers What to Remember Chapter 10: Raising an Active Reader Active Readers beyond 3rd Grade Keep Your Child Reading Taking the ABCs of Active Reading beyond Books Ask Questions Build Vocabulary Make Connections Develop Your Child's Interests and Passions Keeping Read Aloud Alive in Your Family Appendix A: Book Lists Appendix B: Frequently Asked Questions References About the Author