Aiding your child's understanding of literature

During conference I spoke to many families about how to help increase their child’s comprehension (understanding) of what they are reading by asking questions about what they read. I thought this information might be important to shall with all of you!

These are some quality questions that provide different levels of understanding you can ask while they are working on their homework or after reading together for fun.

At the beginning of the book-

What does the title tell you about the story? Have you read any other books by this author?

What do you think will happen in this story?

What background knowledge do you already have about the character or setting?

Have you read any other books based in this time period?

How might the story relate to you?

Middle of the book:

What questions do you have about the story?

Why did the character act the way they did?

Predict how the story will end. What clues did you use to make your prediction?

How would you have solved the problem?

How could the character have avoided the problem?

End of the book:

Summarize the story

How was the problem solved?

How would you end the story differently?

If you could re-name the story- what would you name it?

What lesson can you learn from the story?

Compare and contrast you and the main character.

What is the main idea of the story?

Retell just one main event of what we read.

Thank you so much for your support and reading with your child at home!!!

Tara Whalen

Author Visit to Highline Academy

On Thursday, April 26^th, Colorado children’s book author, Julie Danneberg, will be visiting our school. While here, she will be reading and talking with students in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade. When she is done with her presentations, Julie Danneberg will be available to autograph copies of her books for students who have purchased one ahead of time.

Below is a list of the books she has published along with where you can purchase them. If you would like, you can buy your child one of her books, and your child can bring it to school that day to have it autographed by Julie Danneberg. If you choose to participate, we would advise you to make sure that your child’s name is written on the inside, front cover in permanent marker since many students may be purchasing and bringing the same book titles.

Picture Books

The Big Test

Cowboy Slim

Last Day Blues

First Year Letters

First Day Jitters

Margaret's Magnificent Colorado Adventure

Chapter Book

Family Reminders

Biography Collections

Women Writers of the West

Women Artists of the West

Amidst the Gold Dust

Her books are available at the following bookstores in Denver: Tattered Cover, Barnes & Noble, and The Bookies. They are also available online through Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Fulcrum Publishing, and Charlesbridge Publishing. Please contact me if you can have any questions!

Thank you,

Lisa Dewane

Librarian

ldewane@highlineacademy.org

(303) 759-7808 ext. 1400

Explorer Research

Name _______________________

	4	3	2	1
SS5.3.3 Students will summarize and evaluate the discoveries made by European explorers	Student summarizes the discoveries made by their European explorers. It includes several supporting details and/or examples.	Student summarizes the discoveries made by their European explorer. It provides 1-2 supporting details and/or examples.	Student partially summarizes the discoveries made by their European explorer. No details and/or examples are given.	Student does not show accurate knowledge of their European explorer
SS5.3.3Students will summarize and evaluate the discoveries made by European explorers	The Artifacts add to the audience’s understanding of their explorer.	The Artifact adds to the audience’s understanding of their explorer.	Artifact is remotely related to their explorer.	Artifact is not related to their explorer.
SL.3.4 Report on a topic or text, tells a story, or recounts an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace.	Well-rehearsed with smooth delivery that holds audience attention.	Rehearsed with fairly smooth delivery that holds audience attention most of the time.	Delivery not smooth, but able to maintain interest of the audience most of the time.	Delivery not smooth and audience attention often lost.

Some topics you may wish to share:

Where did your explorer come from?

Where in American did they explore?

What did they hope to discover?

What did they actually discover?

Students are encouraged to dress as their explorer!