At Fairfield Road Primary School, we teach guided reading and comprehension in KS1 and KS2 using question types called content domains. Below are examples of questions you can ask your child when they are reading aloud to you. It will help you to assess their understanding and it will promote 'book talk'.

'Find it' questions are particularly important because they encourage children to scan the text and re-read. 

'Infer it' questions are particularly important because children have to find evidence or search for clues in the text to answer the question.

Questions  (from each content domain) to ask your children whilst they are reading to help them with their understanding:

Define it:

• What does this word mean? (point to a word they have just read)
• What does this word (point to a word) tell you about the character?
• By writing a line in this way what effect has the author created?
• In the story, 'x' is mentioned a lot. Why?
• Can you find a word on this page that has a similar meaning to...?
• What other words/phrases could the author have used?
• The writer uses …words/phrases…to describe … How does this make you feel?
• How has the writer made you and/or character feel …happy/sad/angry?

Find it:

• Where does the story take place?
• When did the story take place?
• Who are the characters in the book?
• What do you think is happening here?
• What happened in the story?
• Through whose eyes is the story told?
• Which part of the story best describes the setting?

Summarise it:

• What’s the main point in this paragraph?
• Bullet point the story using three fingers.
• What happened on the last page?
• Which is the most important point in these paragraphs?

Infer it:

• How does the character feel and what makes you think that?
• Where might the story be set and how do you know?
• What time of day is the story set? How do you know?
• What might the character do next and what clues suggest this?
• What do these words mean and why do you think the author chose them?

Predict it:

• Do you think this story will have a happy ending or a sad ending and why?
• How is mum going to react when the children come home?
• How might character X react?
• Can you think of another story which has a similar theme?
• If the story continued what could happen next?
• Do you know of another story which deals with the same issues; e.g. social; moral; cultural?
• Which stories have openings like this?

Relate it:

• Explain why a character did something.
• Explain a character's different/changing feelings throughout a story. How do you know?
• What are the clues that a character is liked/disliked/envied/feared/loved/hated etc…?
• What is similar/different about two characters?
• Why is 'x' (character/setting/event) important in the story?
• Why do you think the author chose to use a… question/bullet/subheading/table etc to present the information?
• How does the title/layout encourage you to read on/find information?

Explain it:

• What does this… word/phrase/sentence… tell you about… character/setting/mood etc?
• In the story, 'x' is mentioned a lot. Why?
• What other words/phrases could the author have used?
• Has the writer been successful in their purpose or use of language?
• What do you think the writer meant by… 'x'?
• Which words do you think are most important? Why?
• Which words do you like the best? Why?

Compare it:

• Describe different characters' reactions to the same event in a story.
• How is it similar to …? How is it different to …?
• Is it as good as …? Which is better and why?
• What do you think about the way information is organised in different?