Book Reports and Reading Comprehension
Here are some ideas to assist you or your family member in preparing for a book report. The tools can be effective even if a book report is not your final goal. Writing down quick notes as you read has proven to be a very effective tool when testing for reading comprehension. If you do not wish to use sticky notes, you can use loose leaf paper or a notebook. If you own the book, it is sometimes good to use highlighters to mark the settings, characters, and main actions.
Remember that teachers may have specific instructions on what your book report should contain and the order in which it should be written. Our list of things that should be in a book report are only recommendations to get you started. We will update this section on a regular basis and provide new tools that may also help with your reading comprehension.
Tools to Assist Your Child While They Read:
1. Sticky Notes:
a. write down character names as they are introduced with brief descriptions
b. write down quick notes about locations and time
c. write down quick notes about important actions
d. write down your personal thoughts about what is happening
2. Bookmarks:
a. keep between pageswhere you leave off
b. use a blank bookmark and write words on it that you would like to look up the definition of at a later time
3. A Comfortable Reading Area:
a. good lighting
b. comfortable for your back and neck
4. Read Aloud
5. Read with Friends and Family Members
The Top Ten Things That Should Be in a Book Report:
2. Where and when the story takes place (setting & time)
3. Who tells the story (narrator)
4. Main character (protagonist)
5. Secondary characters
6. Sequence of events (plot)
7. How does the book end?
8. Was the book well written?
9. How would you compare it to other books by the same author?
10. Would you recommend the book to others?
Visit monkeyreader.com's online store to find books to to read and write reports about, as well as books with ideas and techniques to assist them in writing their reports. remember to always make yourself available to answer questions and to help your children find and use resources. This will help them throughout their lives.
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