Description

Book Synopsis
Parents and teachers know that reading aloud to children is important, and many parents of young children read aloud to them daily. However, when children start to read on their own, parents often stop reading aloud. But, the early elementary school years, when children are learning how to read on their own, is a perfect time to build vocabulary and comprehension skills through read aloud and Active Reading. Raising an Active Reader makes clear the process of learning to read, how Active Reading fits into raising strong readers, and the behaviors that adults can do to encourage strong language, comprehension, and vocabulary in children in grades K-3. This book extends on the ABCs of Active Reading (Ask Questions, Build Vocabulary, and make Connections) as they apply to older children and picture books, chapter books, and novels. Raising an Active Reader provides parents and teachers with the knowledge and skills to engage elementary school-aged children (grades K-3) in Active Reading w

Table of Contents
Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Active Reading: Preparing Your Child for Reading Success

What is Active Reading?

The Case for Read Aloud when Kids can Read on Their Own

Ready to Read with Me More

Chapter 1: Keep Reading with Me

Active Reading in the Early Elementary Years

Elementary School-Aged Children Learn (A Lot) from Picture Books

Active Reading: Evidence-Based Bedtime Reading

Raising Active Readers

ABCs of Active Reading with Elementary Schoolers

A: Ask Questions

B: Build Vocabulary

C: Make Connections

Keep Reading with Me

What to Remember

Chapter 2: I Can Read on my Own!

What is Reading?

Reading and your Elementary-Schooler

The Big 5: What it Takes to Read

Phonemic Awareness

Phonics

Fluency

Vocabulary

Comprehension

Language: The Foundation for Reading

Active Reading and the Home-School Connection

How do Parents Contribute to Reading Success?

More Ways to Help Your Child with Reading at Home

Let’s Read!

What to Remember

Chapter 3: Books, Books, Books: Building a Library for a Growing Reader

Active Reading Wide and Deep

Your Child’s Reading “Diet”

Illustrated Chapter Books

Myths, Fairy Tales, and Folk Tales

Your Favorites

Your Child’s Perfect Fit

Poetry

Nonfiction

Books that are Beyond Their Years

The Latest, Greatest Books

Windows and Mirrors: Cultivating Diversity and Empathy through Books

Books as Windows

Books as Mirrors

Books They Read On Their Own

Leveled Readers

My First Chapter Books

Tree Books vs. E-Books

Books Matter

What to Remember

Chapter 4: Ask Questions

The Importance of Conversation

Why do we Ask Questions?

Asking Questions about Stories

Story Questions

Using Questions to Help Children Understand Difficult Texts

1. What Does the Text Say?

2. How Does the Text Work?

3. What Does the Text Mean?

4. What Does the Text Inspire You to Do?

Thinking Critically about Stories

How do Children Develop Critical Thinking?

How to Raise a Critical Thinker

Get Kids to Ask Questions

Tell Me More

What to Remember

Chapter 5: Build Vocabulary

Vocabulary is Important, Imperative, and Significant

How Children Learn Words

Finding Words: The Power of Books

Rare Words

Academic Words

Understanding Phrases

Choosing Words during Active Reading

Building Your Child’s Vocabulary through Active Reading

Becoming Word Learners: Developing Word Consciousness

Words, Words, Words

What to Remember

Chapter 6: Make Connections to the Child’s World: Fiction

Making Inferences: Connecting Old and New Information

Cause-and-Effect Inferences

Relationship Inferences

How Do You Know? Helping Children Make Inferences

Making Predictions

Remember to Circle Back

What if My Child’s Prediction Makes No Sense?

Connecting with Stories to Learn about the World

Using Fiction to Help Children Connect to Tough Topics

Connect to Your Child’s World

Chapter 7:Making Connections to Nonfiction Text

Nonfiction and 3rd Grade Reading

The Challenge of Reading Nonfiction

Background Knowledge

Text Structure

Academic Vocabulary

Background Knowledge: The Backbone for Understanding Nonfiction

Build Background Knowledge: Read Wide and Deep

How to Encourage Wide and Deep Reading

Talk about Nonfiction Book Structure

Text Features

Applying the ABCs of Active Reading to Nonfiction

Getting Started: Book Walks

Ask Questions about Nonfiction

Before Reading

During Reading

After Reading

Building Vocabulary with Nonfiction

Make Connections to Nonfiction

Connect with Nonfiction Text

What to Remember

Chapter 8: Active Reading with Chapter Books and Novels

What Makes Chapter Books and Novels Special?

Choosing Chapter Books and Novels to Read Together

Choosing Chapter Books for Your Child to Read On Their Own

The ABCs of Active Reading Chapter Books and Novels

Ask Questions

Story Grammar Questions

Visualizing What We Read

Build Vocabulary

Make Connections

Make Connections with Background Knowledge

Make Connections From Scene to Scene

Make Connections with Characters, Events, and Feelings

Raising a Novel Reader

Active Reading with Longer Stories

What to Remember

Chapter 9: Active Reading and the Struggling Reader

How Kids Struggle with Reading

Word Reading

Fluency

Comprehension

What Kids Who Struggle with Reading Need in Grades K-2

Perfect Practice

Build Stamina

When Children Struggle to Make Inferences

Model How to Visualize

Reread Important Sections

Work at the Sentence Level

Build a Bridge

Use Wordless Picture Books

Active Reading with Struggling Readers

More Ways to Support a Child Who Struggles with Reading

Raising Active Readers

What to Remember

Chapter 10: Raising an Active Reader

Active Readers beyond 3rd Grade

Keep Your Child Reading

Taking the ABCs of Active Reading beyond Books

Ask Questions

Build Vocabulary

Make Connections

Develop Your Child’s Interests and Passions

Keeping Read Aloud Alive in Your Family

Appendix A: Book Lists

Appendix B: Frequently Asked Questions

References

About the Author

Raising an Active Reader

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Order before 4pm today for delivery by Sat 4 Apr 2026.

A Hardback by Samantha Cleaver

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    View other formats and editions of Raising an Active Reader by Samantha Cleaver

    Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
    Publication Date: 1/16/2020 12:04:00 AM
    ISBN13: 9781475849288, 978-1475849288
    ISBN10: 1475849281

    Description

    Book Synopsis
    Parents and teachers know that reading aloud to children is important, and many parents of young children read aloud to them daily. However, when children start to read on their own, parents often stop reading aloud. But, the early elementary school years, when children are learning how to read on their own, is a perfect time to build vocabulary and comprehension skills through read aloud and Active Reading. Raising an Active Reader makes clear the process of learning to read, how Active Reading fits into raising strong readers, and the behaviors that adults can do to encourage strong language, comprehension, and vocabulary in children in grades K-3. This book extends on the ABCs of Active Reading (Ask Questions, Build Vocabulary, and make Connections) as they apply to older children and picture books, chapter books, and novels. Raising an Active Reader provides parents and teachers with the knowledge and skills to engage elementary school-aged children (grades K-3) in Active Reading w

    Table of Contents
    Table of Contents

    Acknowledgments

    Introduction

    Active Reading: Preparing Your Child for Reading Success

    What is Active Reading?

    The Case for Read Aloud when Kids can Read on Their Own

    Ready to Read with Me More

    Chapter 1: Keep Reading with Me

    Active Reading in the Early Elementary Years

    Elementary School-Aged Children Learn (A Lot) from Picture Books

    Active Reading: Evidence-Based Bedtime Reading

    Raising Active Readers

    ABCs of Active Reading with Elementary Schoolers

    A: Ask Questions

    B: Build Vocabulary

    C: Make Connections

    Keep Reading with Me

    What to Remember

    Chapter 2: I Can Read on my Own!

    What is Reading?

    Reading and your Elementary-Schooler

    The Big 5: What it Takes to Read

    Phonemic Awareness

    Phonics

    Fluency

    Vocabulary

    Comprehension

    Language: The Foundation for Reading

    Active Reading and the Home-School Connection

    How do Parents Contribute to Reading Success?

    More Ways to Help Your Child with Reading at Home

    Let’s Read!

    What to Remember

    Chapter 3: Books, Books, Books: Building a Library for a Growing Reader

    Active Reading Wide and Deep

    Your Child’s Reading “Diet”

    Illustrated Chapter Books

    Myths, Fairy Tales, and Folk Tales

    Your Favorites

    Your Child’s Perfect Fit

    Poetry

    Nonfiction

    Books that are Beyond Their Years

    The Latest, Greatest Books

    Windows and Mirrors: Cultivating Diversity and Empathy through Books

    Books as Windows

    Books as Mirrors

    Books They Read On Their Own

    Leveled Readers

    My First Chapter Books

    Tree Books vs. E-Books

    Books Matter

    What to Remember

    Chapter 4: Ask Questions

    The Importance of Conversation

    Why do we Ask Questions?

    Asking Questions about Stories

    Story Questions

    Using Questions to Help Children Understand Difficult Texts

    1. What Does the Text Say?

    2. How Does the Text Work?

    3. What Does the Text Mean?

    4. What Does the Text Inspire You to Do?

    Thinking Critically about Stories

    How do Children Develop Critical Thinking?

    How to Raise a Critical Thinker

    Get Kids to Ask Questions

    Tell Me More

    What to Remember

    Chapter 5: Build Vocabulary

    Vocabulary is Important, Imperative, and Significant

    How Children Learn Words

    Finding Words: The Power of Books

    Rare Words

    Academic Words

    Understanding Phrases

    Choosing Words during Active Reading

    Building Your Child’s Vocabulary through Active Reading

    Becoming Word Learners: Developing Word Consciousness

    Words, Words, Words

    What to Remember

    Chapter 6: Make Connections to the Child’s World: Fiction

    Making Inferences: Connecting Old and New Information

    Cause-and-Effect Inferences

    Relationship Inferences

    How Do You Know? Helping Children Make Inferences

    Making Predictions

    Remember to Circle Back

    What if My Child’s Prediction Makes No Sense?

    Connecting with Stories to Learn about the World

    Using Fiction to Help Children Connect to Tough Topics

    Connect to Your Child’s World

    Chapter 7:Making Connections to Nonfiction Text

    Nonfiction and 3rd Grade Reading

    The Challenge of Reading Nonfiction

    Background Knowledge

    Text Structure

    Academic Vocabulary

    Background Knowledge: The Backbone for Understanding Nonfiction

    Build Background Knowledge: Read Wide and Deep

    How to Encourage Wide and Deep Reading

    Talk about Nonfiction Book Structure

    Text Features

    Applying the ABCs of Active Reading to Nonfiction

    Getting Started: Book Walks

    Ask Questions about Nonfiction

    Before Reading

    During Reading

    After Reading

    Building Vocabulary with Nonfiction

    Make Connections to Nonfiction

    Connect with Nonfiction Text

    What to Remember

    Chapter 8: Active Reading with Chapter Books and Novels

    What Makes Chapter Books and Novels Special?

    Choosing Chapter Books and Novels to Read Together

    Choosing Chapter Books for Your Child to Read On Their Own

    The ABCs of Active Reading Chapter Books and Novels

    Ask Questions

    Story Grammar Questions

    Visualizing What We Read

    Build Vocabulary

    Make Connections

    Make Connections with Background Knowledge

    Make Connections From Scene to Scene

    Make Connections with Characters, Events, and Feelings

    Raising a Novel Reader

    Active Reading with Longer Stories

    What to Remember

    Chapter 9: Active Reading and the Struggling Reader

    How Kids Struggle with Reading

    Word Reading

    Fluency

    Comprehension

    What Kids Who Struggle with Reading Need in Grades K-2

    Perfect Practice

    Build Stamina

    When Children Struggle to Make Inferences

    Model How to Visualize

    Reread Important Sections

    Work at the Sentence Level

    Build a Bridge

    Use Wordless Picture Books

    Active Reading with Struggling Readers

    More Ways to Support a Child Who Struggles with Reading

    Raising Active Readers

    What to Remember

    Chapter 10: Raising an Active Reader

    Active Readers beyond 3rd Grade

    Keep Your Child Reading

    Taking the ABCs of Active Reading beyond Books

    Ask Questions

    Build Vocabulary

    Make Connections

    Develop Your Child’s Interests and Passions

    Keeping Read Aloud Alive in Your Family

    Appendix A: Book Lists

    Appendix B: Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    About the Author

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