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 tomorrow for delivery by Thu 18 Jun 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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