4 Sentence Starters To Use When You Read With Your Child
I’m picturing: This is my go to sentence starter when I read with children. I use this to model making a picture in my head as a read. I will tell the student what I think the character looks like, what action they are doing, and where the character is. It is also fun to ask children if they are picturing the same thing or something different.
I’m wondering: This is a great sentence starter to teach children how to ask questions about a book. You could wonder something simple like, “I wonder where the character is going” or something complex, “I wonder how the character feels.”
I’m noticing: I use this sentence starter to comment on the book. Again, you can notice something simple like, “I notice the character is excited for the birthday party” or something complex, “I am noticing the character is changing throughout the story.”
I’m confused: This is such an overlooked tool to use with your children. It is ok to be confused, even as an adult, when you read a story. When I read a story with a child I will pause and say, “I’m confused. Let’s go back and re-read that.” This shows children it is ok to be confused and gives them a strategy to use when they are stuck. We want children to identify when they are stuck and have a strategy to move on in the story. It is good for children to know that grown ups get confused and stuck too!
