Reading comprehension
Comprehension questions ask children to find information, explain what words mean in context, and work out what a writer suggests but does not say. The answer should always come from the passage, not from what the child already knows.
- Read the whole passage once before looking at the questions.
- For each answer, find the line that proves it.
- For vocabulary questions, try each option in the sentence.
- For inference questions, look for clues about feelings and reasons.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar
These questions reward accuracy. Short, regular practice works better than long lists. Homophones such as their, there and they're, apostrophes, and commas in lists come up often.
When a mistake appears, ask your child to explain the rule in their own words. Explaining a rule helps it stick far better than copying the answer.
Building a reading habit
Reading a mix of stories, non-fiction and poetry widens vocabulary and gets children used to different kinds of writing. Talking together about a book, such as why a character acted as they did, is good practice for inference questions.
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