30 Reading Questions for Before, During and After

While you’re on the rug with students do you ever just get a brain fart and totally forget what to ask them. Yes, it has happened to me a few too many times. Now, I save myself with my little ring of questions to use during whole group (and small group as well). Asking the right questions at the right time is key to getting students where you want them.

Reading Questions for Before, After and During Reading

Reading Questions for Before a Book

There are many questions you could ask before you even read the book. Sometimes, I want to know what my students know about a topic before we dive into the book. I may want to introduce new vocabulary that will be unknown to them. To avoid confusion, I introduce the vocabulary before we read. Other times, I may want to know how the illustrations make them feel or what it makes them think. Here’s a few questions you can ask before you begin reading a text:

How does the cover make you feel?
Who do you see on the cover?
What do you think the story will be about?
How do you know that?
Have you ever _____ (insert whatever they say about what they think will happen)?
Do you think this story will be fiction or nonfiction? How can you tell that from the cover?
What’s your prediction?

Questions to Ask During Reading a Book

What do you think will happen next?
Where do you think they will go now?
What should he/she do next?
What would you do?

Questions to Ask After Reading a Book

After the book, if you want students to think in a certain way, you can ask questions to help guide the discussion in that way. Depending on your skill that you are working on you may use some of these: