Asking Questions About Stories

Core Idea

Good listeners ask questions while they hear a story. You might wonder why a character did something, what will happen next, or what a word means. Asking questions shows that you are paying attention and thinking about the story. There is no such thing as a silly question when it comes to stories.

How It's Best Learned

While listening to a story, pause whenever you have a question and say it out loud. A grown-up can model this by asking questions too: "I wonder why the bear went into the cave?" Try asking "why?" and "what if?" questions about your favorite stories.

Common Misconceptions

• Thinking you should wait until the end to ask questions; asking during the story helps you understand as you go.
• Believing only grown-ups get to ask questions; listeners of any age should ask questions.
• Assuming that having questions means you are not understanding the story; questions are a sign of active, thoughtful listening.

Explainer

When someone reads you a story, you might have questions pop into your head. You might wonder why a character did something, what will happen next, or what a tricky word means. That is wonderful! Asking questions about a story shows that you are really listening and thinking hard. It means your brain is working and you care about the story.

Here is something important to know: You can ask questions anytime while the story is happening. You do not have to wait until the end. If you wonder something, just raise your hand or say it! When you ask a question right away, it helps you understand the story better as you go along. Maybe a grown-up can answer your question, and then the story makes more sense. Maybe the answer comes later in the story, and you will find out together.

There are many kinds of questions you can ask. You can ask "Why did the character do that?" or "What will happen next?" or "What does that word mean?" You can ask about the pictures, about what the characters are feeling, or about anything else you are curious about. Every question is good because every question shows you are thinking.

Some kids worry that asking questions means they are not smart or that they are not listening. That is not true at all! The smartest listeners ask the most questions because they are curious and they think carefully. So if you have a question while listening to a story, do not be shy. Ask it! Your question might help everyone enjoy the story more.