Thoughtful Response to Text

How can I tell if a child has taken their comprehension to a deeper level? What does a thoughtful response to a text look like? Some questions/writing prompts to foster thoughtful response include:

Predictions

• What are some predictions you have about the next chapter?
• What do you think will happen to one of the character's during tomorrow's reading?

Making Connections to Self:

• How do you think the character felt during an important scene from the story?
• What thoughts went through his/her mind?
• How would you react if you were in his/her situation? What would you do?
• What motivated one character to make one of his/her decisions? Do you think he/she made the right decision?
• How does this story relate to your own life? Family? Town? Nation? World?

Making Connections to Another Story:

• What other story does this remind you of? In what ways?
• If having trouble comparing to another story, what movie does this story resemble?
• What character seems familiar from another story?

Envisioning the Story:

• After reading the novel/selection, which of the following best describes how you feel: angry, awed, amazed, baffled, disgusted, disturbed, dissatisfied, irritated, joyous, uneasy, untouched, sad? Elaborate on your answer.
• If I were in this story, I would/wouldn't have...
• I really admire the character of ___________ because...
• I realized...
• I did/didn't like the way...
• I know the feeling of...
• The biggest thing that the character of _____ learned in this story was...
• The most important lesson that I, the reader, learned in this story was...
• Which of the following descriptive terms makes you think of one of the character in the story or novel we just read: lonely, angry, helpless, uncaring, helpful, wise, responsible. unselfish? Describe the character and explain why you think this character feels or personifies this emotion.